London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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St George (Southwark) 1880

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southwark]

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16 Parish of Saint George the Martyr, Southwark.
With regard to the water supply, 1 professor Frankland reports that during the year
1880, the organic impurities have been larger than any year since 1872, owing to the
flooded state of the rivers, so that with all the storage at their command it seems impossible
for the companies to supply water fit for dietetic purposes.
During the first three quarters of the year there was no marked deviation from the usual
temperature of the several months, except in September, when on the 4th the thermometer
registered 79°.0; but the last quarter was distinguished by an extraordinary low temperature,
and exceptional falls] of snow. On the 21st of January the thermometer at
Blackheath was 9°.2, and the depth of snow in some parts of the country measured 33
inches; and a correspondent from Bournemouth says, "Rooks were seen to kill and oat
sparrows, and blackbirds to eat each other on my lawn, where a great congregation of
birds were collected."
The duties of the Inspectors, under the Sanitary Act, necessarily bring them into contact
with infectious diseases, and much of their time is taken up in removing infectious
cases, and superintending the disinfection of the houses, articles of clothing, and bedding,
where they have occurred; and there is great credit due to them for the manner in which
they have performed their unpleasant duties.
The several articles below have been disinfected.
1880 and 1881.
LIST OF BEDDING DISINFECTED IN THE APPARATUS.
Mattrasses 14
Beds 44
Bolsters 19
Pillows 44
Sheets 27
Blankets 33
Counterpanes 33
Apparel 10
Cushions 7
Sundries 17
Total 248
The slaughter and cow-houses have been regularly inspected, and I attended at the
quarter sessions respecting the licenses, which were unopposed by the Vestry.
THOS. II. WATERWORTH, M.D.
June 29th, 1881.

TABLE No. 5.

1876—71877—81878—91879—801880—1
First QuarterSecond QuarterThird QuarterFourth QuarterFirst QuarterSecond QuarterThird QuarterFourth QuarterFirst QuarterSecond QuarterThird QuarterFourth QuarterFirst QuarterSecond QuarterThird QuarterFourth QuarterFirst QuarterSecond QuarterThird QuarterFourth Quarter
Small-pox......9171111365......1............1...2
Measles421610294785114812133384912
Scarlatina716765247135211432237231020159
Diphtheria33...111...1243412122335
WhoopingCough12106111915105142366736142193311
Diarrhœa8494294023988414193137896
Typhus514325526475422..24......

TABLE No. 6.

1871-21872-31873-41874-51875-61876-71877-81878-91879-801880-1
Small-pox120181......26161113
Measles5885727483248283133
Scarlatina29111651783618538554
Diphtheria7584107313613
Whooping-cough82456354883995917536
Diarrhœa7870108726863541022796
Fever192013181513142286