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 1869
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Clerkenwell, St. James and St. John]
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17
Workshop Regulation Act. The persons engaged in workshops
seem well acquainted with the powers of the law; hence we have
had numerous cases of complaint of over.confinement, want of ventilation,
&c. Although tho complaints are mostly anonymous, they have
all been inquired into, and the employers warned, with sufficient effect;
for we have not had repeated complaints from the same establishment.
I believe the act is not evaded to anv material extent in the parish.
Ihe Meteorology of the year was as follows:
| 1869. | Temperature, mean. | Difference from mean of 98 years. | Dew Point. | Humidity (Saturations! 00.) | Height of Barometer. | Eain in inches. | Difference from average of 54 years. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 49.5 | + 1.0 | 43.8 | 81 | 29.79 | 24.1 | —0.4 |
| Winter Quarter (Jan., Feb., Mar.) | 41.3 | + 2.8 | 36.9 | 85 | 29.76 | 6.6 | + 1.6 |
| Spring Quarter (April, May, June.) | 52 | —0.2 | 46.1 | 81 | 29.80 | 5.6 | .0.4 |
| Summer Quarter (July, Aug., Sept.) | 61.4 | + 1.9 | 53.3 | 75 | 29.84 | 4.9 | —2.5 |
| Autumn Quarter (Oct., Nov., Dec.) | 43.3 | —0.5 | 38.8 | 84 | 29.75 | 7.0 | —0.1 |
Hence the mean temperature of the year was slightly above the
average ; the summer and winter quarters being above, and the
spring and autumn quarters below the average.
The rain.fall during the year was very slightly below the
average; being somewhat in excess during the winter quarter, but
deficient in the three other quarters.
Sanitary Improvements. During the year, 60 feet
of 4.feet by 2.feet 6.in. of brick sewer was constructed, and 150 feet
of 12.inch pipe.sewer laid down; 34 sewers have been cleansed and
9 repaired; 4 new gullies have been constructed, 5 trapped, 26
repaired, and 175 cleansed; 50 house.drains have been laid down,
while 64 houses have been drained; 13 cesspools have been destroyed,
and replaced by water.closets; and 136 loads of soil have been taken
out of the sewers and gullies.
I have the honor to remain, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
December, 1870. J. W. GRIFFITH, M.D.