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
St James's 1872
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St James's, Westminster]
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First Quarter.
| Diseases. | St. James's Square Division. | Golden Square Division. | Berwick Street Division. | Workhouse. | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Pox | .. | 1 | 1 | .. | |
| Measles | .. | 5 | 4 | 5 | 14 |
| Scarlet Fever and Diptheria | .. | .. | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Whooping Cough. | 1 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 13 |
| Fever | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | |
| Diarrhœa | .. | . | .. | ||
| 3 | 14 | 14 | 8 | 39 | |
| Second Quarter. | |||||
| Small Pox | 1 | .. | .. | 1 | 2 |
| Measles. | .. | 3 | 1 | .. | 4 |
| Scarlet Fever. | .. | .. | 1 | .. | 1 |
| Whooping Cough. | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7 | |
| Diarrhoea | 1 | .. | .. | 3 | |
| 6 | 3 | 2 | 17 | ||
| Third Quarter. | |||||
| Measles | .. | 1 | 1 | .. | 2 |
| Scarlet Fever. | .. | .. | 1 | .. | 1 |
| Whooping Cough. | .. | 2 | 1 | .. | 3 |
| Fever | .. | 1 | 1 | .. | 2 |
| Diarrhœa | 3 | 10 | 5 | .. | 18 |
| 3 | 14 | 9 | 20 | ||
| Fourth Quarter. | |||||
| Small Pox | • | 1 | .. | 1 | 2 |
| Measles. | .. | 3 | 1 | .. | 4 |
| Scarlet Fever. | .. | 1 | 1 | .. | 2 |
| Whooping Cough. | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7 | |
| Diarrhœa | 1 | .. | 5 | ||
| 5 | 9 | 4 | 20 | ||
This table brings out an unlooked for result, and
yet not perhaps an unaccountable one, and that is
the greater prevalence of Zymotic disease in the
Golden Square district. The explanation of this is
to be probably found in the fact that the inhabitants
of this district do not as a rule have recourse to
parochial medical relief, as those do who live in
Berwick Street; consequently there is less medical
attendance, and the existence of Zymotic disease,
which can be so easily arrested when measures are
taken soon enough, is not made known to the
Medical Officer of Health. Although Zymotic
diseases are more likely to spread in an overcrowded
district, yet they can be easily prevented spreading
by isolation and the proper use of disinfectants.
Small Pox.
1871 saw one of the most extensive epidemics of
Small Pox known in this kingdom since the introduction
of vaccination. In my last Report I gave