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

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St James's 1859

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St James's, Westminster]

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7
disease was small pox. The number of persons
that died in the parish was four, but many who were
attacked were conveyed to the Small Pox Hospital,
and died there. Even with this addition, the
number who died would not have made the presence
of this disease so alarming, but that it was known
to be spreading throughout the Metropolis, and week
after week that unerring interpreter of the presence
of disease, the Registrar-General's Weekly Report
of the Mortality of the Metropolis, brought to light
the fact, that the countrymen of Jenner had neglected
the great discovery which he had bequeathed,
and were paying the penalty by hundreds of deaths
and thousands of cases of disgusting disease.
Although this disease was working its way in 1858,
and straggling cases, without any death, occurred
amongst us in that year, it was not till May 1859,
that a fatal case occurred. This happened in
Berwick Street. I immediately made inquiries in
the immediate neighbourhood, and found that all
the children in that and the neighbouring houses
were vaccinated. I found, however, on making
inquiries of the public Vaccinators and Registrars,
that their returns did not afford evidence that half
the children that were born in the parish were vaccinated,
and suggested that means should be taken
to ascertain whether all who were born in the parish
were vaccinated. I also directed the Sanitary
Inspector, Mr. Morgan, to make inquiries, in order
to ascertain whether the children of families living
in the vicinity of houses where small pox had

whole Metropolis. This will be seen from the following extract from the Registrar-General's Reports for 1858 and 1859.

Small Pox.Measles.Scarlet Fever.Hooping Cough.Diarrhœa.Typhus.
185824723834118270020931902
1859115613054197174133351796