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

View report page

Kingston upon Thames 1896

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kingston-upon-Thames]

This page requires JavaScript

12
The majority of the cases occurred in the Hill
Ward, in that part of the ward that is just at the
bottom of the hill. These children mostly attended
the one school, but only in one or two cases could
any, probable, common source of infection be traced.
Some of the houses attacked were without concrete
basements and the sanitary conditions were not very
modern, but nothing definitely bad was discovered.
It is to be hoped that the new surface drainage to
this neighbourhood may be followed by freedom from
this disease. Bacteriological examination is urgently
needed in order to properly cope with this disease.
Enteric or Typhoid Fever.
Four deaths were reported out of 14 cases
notified: the highest mortality for four years. In
three cases impure water was the means of infection.
One case was imported, but on the other hand one
case arose in the town which is notified in the district
where resident. All wells that are not known to be
properly constructed should be opened and remade
as Koch has recommended: "A well should be
"filled up first with gravel and then with fine sand,
"and the pump should be some distance from the
"well and connected to it by a lead pipe, or a
"pipe may be led directly to a water-bearing
"stratum and connected with a pump." Such wells
are fairly satisfactory as long as the water-bearing
stratum is not contaminated in any way through building
operations, &c. How many wells are made in this
manner, and how many are less satisfactory, there
is no information to show. (See Table C.)
Puerperal Fever.
Two cases were notified and one died.
The death was attributed to improper nursing
and attendance. Persons cannot be too careful in
their enquiries into the knowledge, character and