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21
APPENDIX No. 1.
Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
From the 1st April, 1874, to March 31st 1875.
The Vestry of the Parish of Rotherhithe, Surrey.
Gentlemen,—
The low death rate which has obtained in this parish for several successive years,
and which has placed its character in this respect on a par with the most favoured
parishes in Loudon has undergone an increase during the year ending March 31st,
1875.
The increase in the rate of mortality is not peculiar to this parish, but has
prevailed throughout London, and was more particularly observed during the two
last quarters of the year, it was probably due to powerful atmospheric influences,
which caused diseases of the air passages and lungs to be unusually numerous and
fatal in their effects, the most destructive to lite being Diptheria, Croup, Bronchitis,
and Pneumonia.
Zymotic Diseases. In this class the deaths are about the average number for
the last seven years, the cases of Fever, Scarlatina and Diptheria have been more
numerous than usual.
Fever. Thirteen cases were registered, 9 as typhoid, 3 typhus, and 1 continued.
Small-Pox. One death from this cause was recorded, and it is note-worthy that
not a single death occurred last year.
Scarlatina. There were fifteen deaths from this cause, a greater number in one
year than has occurred since 1870, they occurred in the two last quarters of the year,
and numbered 8 in the quarter ending December 31st, and 7 in the quarter ending
March 31st, 1875.
Measles. This disease destroyed 6 lives, which were not half the usual number.
Whooping Cough. Twenty-six deaths were registered, being rather above
the average number.