London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Rotherhithe 1876
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Rotherhithe]
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During the last ten years the average annual number of deaths have been 107, and it is noteworthy that notwithstanding some increase of population and the decline of one severe epidermic disease and the activity of another, only ninety two deaths have been registered this year.
| Diseases. | 1863. | 1869. | 1870. | 1871. | 1872. | 187S. | 1874. | 1875. | 1876. | 1877 | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fever | 12 | 15 | 13 | 9 | 12 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 4 | 8 | 99 |
| Small Pox | 6 | 3 | 5 | 23 | 31 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 84 |
| Scarlatina | 4 | 10 | 124 | 21 | 5 | 13 | 2 | 15 | 53 | 12 | 264 |
| Measles | 12 | 19 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 4 | 22 | 6 | 14 | 13 | 118 |
| Whooping Cough | 12 | 29 | 22 | 15 | 13 | 21 | 20 | 26 | 33 | 20 | 211 |
| Diarrhœa | 20 | 29 | 25 | 22 | 22 | 33 | 27 | 30 | 24 | 26 | 258 |
| Diptheria | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 10 | 1 | 37 |
| Varicella | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 67 | 106 | 196 | 101 | 99 | 79 | 80 | 109 | 143 | 92 | 1072 |
At the end of this report five tables are appended which contain the number of deaths, and describe the
names of the diseases which have proved fatal; some difficulty may be experienced by unprofessional readers
to understand some of the names of diseases, but think on the whole a fair amount of information may be
acquired by those who peruse them, with a desire to receive profit thereby; however, that may be, these tables
may be useful at some future time, as forming a guide for ascertaining at a particular period and from year to
year, the character of the diseases which were most destructive, to life.
The investigation of the birth rate and rate of mortality represent the former as forty per thousand,
and the latter twenty per thousand.
The character of the sanitary work has not much differed from that of former years, it consisted of the
attempt to cause the abatement of various forms of nuisance, which will be explained in the following statement
furnished by the Sanitary Inspector (Mr. Edwards).
SANITARY WORK, &c„ COMPLETED IN THS YEAR ENDING MARCH 31st, 1877.
Notices issued for Sanitary amendments, &c., of houses and premises, 427.
Houses and premises cleansed, repaired, and whitewashed 199.
Removal of complaints arising from defective drainage, 125.
Houses disinfected after contagious diseases therein, 64.
Bakehouses
Licensed Cowhouses Periodically inspected.
Licensed Slaughterhouses
Summonses issued and orders obtained for the abatement of nuisances, 23.
Yours respectfully,
SAMUEL TILLEY.
Rotherhithe, 1877.