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
Westminster 1891
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, The United Parishes of St. Margaret and St. John, Westminster]
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The following doaths occurrod at tho undermentioned places, viz:—
| Hospitals. | Barracks. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Westminster | 222 | Wellington | 2 |
| Station | 13 | Knightsbridge | 2 |
| Guards | 1 | ||
| Emanuol | 3 | ||
| Goldstreams | 1 | ||
| Grosvonor | 4 | ||
| Convent | 3 | ||
| 247 | 4 | ||
The following deaths occurred at the undermentioned
ages, viz:—
Above sixty, 127; above seventy, 85 ; above eighty, 29 ;a
above ninety, 5.
The following is a table of deaths from zymotic causes during the past three years :—
| 1800. | 1891. | 1802. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Pox | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Measles | 38 | 31 | 39 |
| Scarlet Fever | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Whooping Cough | 42 | 34 | 22 |
| Diarrhœa | 15 | 32 | 43 |
| Dysentery | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cholera | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fever | 4 | 6 | 10 |
| 133 | 103 | 114 |
The above table shows an increase, in reference to the
previous year, of 11 deaths arising from zymotic diseases, and
on examination of the table of deaths, an increase of 8 as compared
with the previous year, which is more than accounted
for by measles alone, there being 39 deaths this year and 31
last. The increase in diarrhœa is 11, and in fever 4, but in
whooping cough there is a marked decrease, having 22 deaths
this year whilst there wore 34 in 1891. The death-rate has
boon as nearly as possible 18.
Compulsory notification of disease—
This continues to bo of the greatest assistance. The
inspectors are enabled to take immediate steps to improve the
sanitary conditions of the dwellings, and in the majority of
cases with the very best results, and this has boon much helped
in many instances by the kind promptitude of the medical
gentlemen reporting cases.