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
Clerkenwell 1868
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Clerkenwell, St. James and St. John]
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The Meteorology of the year was as follows:
| 1868. | Temperature, moun. | Difference from mean of 97 yean. | Dew Point. | Humidity (Saturation=100.) | Height of Barometer. | Bain in inches. | Difference from average of 53 years. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 51.6 | + 31 | 44.8 | 78 | 29.78 | 25.2 | 0.1 |
| Winter Quarter (Jan., Feb., Mar.) | 41.4 | + 2.9 | 36.3 | 82 | 29.84 | 6.6 | + 1.6 |
| Spring Quarter (April, May, June.) | 55.8 | + 3.6 | 47.1 | 73 | 29.86 | 4.3 | 1.6 |
| Summer Quarter (July, Aug., Sept.) | 63.9 | + 4.3 | 53.8 | 70 | 29.77 | 5.1 | —2.5 |
| Autumn Quarter (Oct., Nov., Dec) | 45.1 | + 1.4 | 41.7 | 88 | 29.66 | 9.2 | + 2.1 |
Hence the temperature of the year was somewhat above the
average, that of the spring and summer being considerably so.
The rain-fall for the whole year was about the average, the excess
in the winter and autumn quarters making up the deficiency in the
spring and summer quarters.
Sanitary Improvements. These were as follows
during the year: 212 feet of 9-inch pipe-sewer were laid down; and
160 feet of 12.inch; 27 sewers were cleansed and 5 repaired; 5 new
gullies were constructed, 18 trapped, 12 repaired, and 152 cleansed;
48 houses were drained; 12 cesspools destroyed and water-closets substituted
for them; 73 loads of soil were removed from the sewers and
the gullies; and one public urinal erected.
During the year, several lots of fish, plucks, and meat, in a state
unfit for food, were seized and destroyed, under a magistrate's order;
and in one instance, two of the salesmen were sent to the House of
Correction for a month.
I have the honor to remain, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
October, 1869. J. W. GRIFFITH, M.D.