The state of the public health generally as the result of all these sanitary abominations was very unsatisfactory.
In 1863 the mortality of London was unusually high.
The Medical Officer of Health for St. Giles’ wrote:—
“The year has been conspicuous for a high mortality resulting from the prevalence of epidemics to an unusual degree—smallpox, scarlatina, typhus.”
The following year he reported to have been—
“A year of exceptional mortality…. Death rate 29·74 per thousand, or, if the deaths of parishioners in hospitals be included, 31·10…. Tubercular diseases, of which consumption affecting the lungs is the most important, were as usual intensely fatal in our district.”
The Medical Officer of Health for Whitechapel drew attention to the increase of mortality in his district. He was evidently puzzled and perplexed by it, and “candidly confessed” his inability to account for it.
“I may, however, venture a few conjectures.” Among them was this very suggestive one—“that a change has taken place in the constitution of the people so that they are now less able to bear the effects of disease than formerly.”
Suggestions and recommendations for ameliorating this appalling condition of things poured in upon many of the local authorities from their Medical Officers of Health.