180 REPORT — 1877. 



On the Health of Plymouth. By Thomas Littleton, M.B., F.B.O.S. 



The estimated population of Plymouth, in 1877, was 72,911, that of Devonport 

 49,449, and that of Stonehouse 14,685 ; total of the Three Towns, 136,945. The 

 health of Plymouth represented that of a large extent of country — the banks of the 

 Tamar and Plym. The late Rev. J. Wallis (Cornwall Register, 1847), speaking 

 of this district, said : — " The twelve parishes, &c, form one of the most interesting 

 and beautiful districts in the world, &c." The health of Plymouth in fortirc times 

 had been fully illustrated by Drs. lluxham, Mudge, Yonge, Woolcombe, and 

 Blackmore, Sir S. Hammick, Dr. Butter, and others. Plymouth had been also the 

 subject of a great number of reports in connexion with sanitary matters by Odgers, 

 Rawlinson, Hawksley, A. Rooker, Dr. A. Smith, and Dr. Letbeby, and they were 

 now awaiting a report by Dr. Ballard, of the Local Government Board. But it 

 was to the elaborate and exact statistics set fourth by Dr. Farr, in his Supplement 

 to the Thirty-fifth Annual Report of the Registrar-General, that he must chiefly 

 direct attention. The average annual rainfall of Plymouth, as observed by Dr. 

 Huxham, was 30'35 inches. Sir John Forbes stated it at 81, and during the last 

 12 years Dr. Merritield had found the average to be 37 inches. Mr. G. J. Symons's 

 statement that it was 44-81 inches represented Ham, Plympton, Dartmoor, &c, 

 and not the town of Plymouth proper. The same is to be understood of Mr. 

 Bellamv's remarks. The chemical examination of Plymouth rain showed its 

 healthf "illness in a favourable light. The planting of trees had been spoken of, and 

 a decision given in its favour ; but if such were to any great extent indulged in, 

 Plymouth would be injured by so doing. Dr. Huxham's work proved the preva- 

 lence of ague, and changes by recovery of marsh lands and drainage had been the 

 agents in its removal. Large tracts of land were recovered in the reign of William 

 and Mary — Chelson Meadow (175 acres) by Lord Morley, and other large tracts at 

 Maristowe, Landulph, Ernesettle, &c. The last of these marshes, between Ply- 

 mouth and Devonport, had been removed in the time of those still living. As 

 intimately associated with this part of his subject attention must be particularly 

 directed to the excellent water supplied to Plymouth by Sir Francis Drake. As 

 supplied in its unfiltered state it was found to be as follows :— Free ammonia, 0-02 

 part per million ; albuminoid ammonia, 0-09. After filtration through a silicated 

 carbon filter : — Free ammonia, 0-05 ; albuminoid ditto, - 03 ; solids in grains per 

 gallon, equal 4 grains. This water was unequalled, and not surpassed even in the 

 town supply of Glasgow. While speaking thus highly of the town water, he would 

 advise the local wells of Plymouth to be carefully kept, as these supplied a goodly 

 proportion of lime salts, and would prevent by their use very much of the rickets 

 which prevailed amongst children, and leueorrhcea in women. The insufficient 

 supply and bad quality of the milk, as well as overcrowding, had very much to do 

 with the prevalence of rickets. A registration of disease was much required to 

 make known the extent of this and other diseases, which did not affect the death- 

 rate, but diminished very materially the efficiency of the population — a point so 

 judiciously remarked on by Earl Fortescue in his presidential address. By a com- 

 parison of the death-rates of this town at different periods they would at once be 

 able to notice the value of sanitary improvements. The death-rate of Plymouth in 

 1829 was 35-7 per 1,000; 1811, 357 j 1841-1850,25; 1851-1800,24; 1861-1870, 

 23; 1871-1876, 21-75; and during the past six months ending June, 1877, 21. 

 Zymotic death -rate in last six months, 1-5. The density of population in Plymouth 

 had been doubled in the period between 1841 and 1870. Prom 1841-50 the acres 

 to a person were 0-4; in 1851-60, 0-3; and in 1861-70, 0'2. The periods of 

 doubling of the population had been sixty years before 1800, and thirty years since 

 that date. If the paper read by Sir James Watson received that attention to 

 which it was justly due they shall see the death-rate in Plymouth still further 

 reduced. The great advantage of increased cubic space in military barracks showed 

 how much of consumption was removable by the increase of cubic space. This 

 evil of overcrowding, the density of population, and the large number of emigrants 

 (10,000 annually) passing through Plymouth were amongst the chief causes of 

 epidemic diseases and the severity which they at times manifested. 



