View report page

44
The next disease which claims attention is
Typhus fever. Although only nine cases of death
occurred in the year 1868, there were undoubted
indications of a tendency in this disease to spread
in the Metropolis, at the end of the year 1868.
The admissions into the London Fever Hospital
which were 66 in August, rose to 97 in September,
and to 235 in October. On November 26, 1868, I
read a communication from the Association of
Medical Officers of Health, in which they recommended,
with a view as far as possible to arrest the
epidemic, the following principles:—
1. That in no house should a typhus patient be
retained in the house where the disease
originated.
2. That adequate provision should at once be
made for the reception of typhus fever
cases.
3. That the overcrowding of small tenements
should as far as possible be prevented.
4. That as the connection between typhus, and
privation was well established, liberal
relief should be granted to the poor in
respect of fire, food, and clothing.
These principles have I believe been acted on as
far as possible in this Parish, and up to the present
time typhus has not assumed an alarming aspect
amongst your fellow parishioners.