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
Wandsworth 1880
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth District, The Board of Works (Clapham, Putney, Streatham, Tooting & Wandsworth)]
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22
Uncertified deaths.—There occurred during the
year 50 cases in which the cause of death was not
certified in the ordinary manner by a qualified medical
practitioner. Of these 23 were submitted to the
Coroner, 12 were certified by a medical practitioner who
is duly qualified, but not at the time of certifying
registered, and in the other 15 cases, principally those
of young children, burial took place without any investigation.
It cannot be too strongly urged that no
human being should be interred without an investigation
into the cause of death being held by some competent
authority—which if rendered compulsory by law, would
remove any possible suspicion as to the manner in
which these persons, generally young, and but too
frequently illegitimate, came by their death.
| per cent. | |
|---|---|
| Nobility and Gentry | 5 = .50 |
| Professional Class | 18 = 1.75 |
| Middle and Trading Class | 121 == 11.75 |
| Industrial and Labouring Class | 886 = 86.00 |
| 1030 100.00 |
Disease and Mortality amongst the Union Poor.—
The cases which have come under the care of the District
Medical Officer, during the year 1880, numbered 1,001,
and included an unusually large proportion of cases of
acute disease.
The severity of the cases is evidenced by the mortality,
33, more than double that of the preceding year,
when it amounted to 16 only. The mortality of cases
treated is nearly 33 per thousand, but many cases were
removed to the Metropolitan Asylums, and other Hospitals,
with the object of procuring proper lodging, diet,