[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southwark, The Vestry of the Parish of St. George the Martyr].

  • St. George the Martyr (Southwark, London, England). Parish Council.
Date:
1873
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Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Credit: [Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southwark, The Vestry of the Parish of St. George the Martyr]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    4 Parish of Saint George the Martyr, Southwark. from absolute necessity: that all the suggestions and aids, which wisdom and experience could bring to bear would have been willingly and earnestly given, and would have been as willingly and earnestly received; and that there would have been manifested a most sincere and anxious endeavour, and a spirit of self-sacrifice in helping on the Bill. The reverse was almost the case; empty benches, lukewarm speeches, marked its weary course. No number of Public Health Bills will avail, unless the nation—and we look upon the House as its representative—will take some interest, and give itself some trouble in the matter. Sir J. D. Coleridge, Q.C., M.P., truly remarked, when speaking upon this subject at the last Social Science meeting, that what was wanted was a complete and intelligent under standing of the immense importance of these questions, within the walls of the Legislature. And as long as it remains true, that the wealth and strength of a nation depends upon the health of its masses, the sooner this complete and intelligent understanding is gained, the better will it be for this country. The fourth and last event to which I will claim your attention is the Adulteration Act This Act was almost universally demanded, for adulteration had reached a most shameful extent, injuring alike the health of the purchaser, and the morals of the seller. I do not moan to assert that all adulterations are injurious to health, many are not so; but I do say that selling an article for that which it is not is a grievous wrong, and if we are to be stig matised as a nation of shopkeepers, let us not give cause that we should be stigmatised as a nation of dishonest shopkeepers. If an article be mixed, let it be stated with what it is mixed. A Milkman in -a considerable way of business told us, that if we carried out rigidly this Act, there would not be quarter enough milk for London consumption. I have no doubt whatever, that this statement is correct as to the extent of the adulteration of this important article of diet. So, upon this one part of milk and three parts of water, the children of the Metropolis are fed. Well may such children be stunted in their growth, and have their lower limbs bent into a variety of shapes. Out of the phosphates which milk contains, should these soft bones become changed and formed into the bones of strong men. Thousands of children have never tasted milk, other than this watery com pound. From the beginning of life unto its close is man thus injured and destroyed. TABLE No. 1. Years 1863-4 1864-5 1865-6 1866-7 1867-8 1868-9 1869-70 1870-1 1871-2 1872-3 Deaths 1689 1646 1482 1502 1352 1501 1740 1410 1444 1119 Excess of Births 443 433 707 543 706 671 249 655 499 997 During the year 1872—3 that ended 29th March, 1873, there were born in this district 2116 children, 173 more than in the preceding year, 1050 of these were boys, and 1066 were girls. The number of deaths registered during the same period of time was 1,119, a decrease in the mortality to the extent of 325. Of these 561 were males, and 558 were females. The excess of births over deaths was 997. The death rate was near 20 per thousand, or one death in 51 persons living. In no year of the last ton, has there been so large an excess of births, and in no year of the same period have there been so few deaths.