Folios 394-407. Letter from Doctor Frederick Batemen, Medical Officer of Health for...

Folios 394-407. Letter from Doctor Frederick Batemen, Medical Officer of Health for the Mitford and Launditch Poor Law Union, to the Local Government Board. He encloses a copy of his annual report as read by the guardians of the Mitford and Launditch Poor Law Union at their meeting of 23 February 1880.
Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health for the Mitford and Launditch Poor Law Union to the chairman of the guardians of the Mitford and Launditch Poor Law Union for the year ended 1879, from Doctor Frederick Bateman Medical Officer of Health; includes details of the birth rate [which excludes the town of East Dereham as it is no longer under the control of the Mitford and Launditch Sanitary Authority], death rate relative to the following districts: East Dereham, Bawdeswell, Litcham, North Elmham, Mattishall and Shipdham, details of the causes of death, infant mortality, Zymotic disease, Scarlaltina, Entropic Fever, pauper sickness and a summary of actions taken by Bateman to prevent the spread of disease and for promoting the sanitary conditions of the Union.
He has thought it necessary to personally visit all parishes within the union, so that he can be familiar with the various localities and the sanitary conditions under his area of control and supervision. He has particularly brought to the attention of the board in the last year different matters, which acquired their attention, especially to water supply and the disposal of sewage. Amongst this are defective water supplies at Vipers Hall, Rougham and in the parish of Scarning, particularly at Scarning Fen, where 12 cottages were supplied from a spring 150 yards off, in which spring 'the maidens of the village washed their feet'. This has been partly remedied by the construction of a well for those cottages owned by Miss Bone. He also reported the defected state of drainage in Litcham, stating that only a complete reorganisation of the whole drainage would meet the requirements of this case. He noted that owing to his survey of the district a vast number of improvements have been effected by Mr Clarke [William Edgar Clarke].
He also notes that he was not consulted as to the expediency of closing Board schools during the prevalence of scarlatina or measles, and in most instances he has not directed the schools to be closed. He feels it important for the receiving of an education to be taken as a serious matter and outlines his reasoning behind this statement.
78 cases of mortality have resulted from bronchitis, pneumonia and pleurisy, with the following registration districts of East Dereham, Bawdeswell, Litcham, North Elmham, Mattishall and Shipdham suffering the most. He also notes that 46 persons have died at 80 years and upwards, the eldest being a farm labourer who died at the Gressenhall Union workhouse at 97 years old.
Annotated: 'Tables differ as regards 1. Total deaths, 2. Deaths under and 3. Over 5 years and 4. Deaths over 5 from Bronchitis', 15 March 1880.
Annotated: '1. Return tables for correction. 2. Mr Boyle', 2 May 1880.
Annotated: 'I suggest no correspondence with the Authority on this report, Courtenay Boyle, Local Government Inspector.

Paper Number: 17867/1880.

Poor Law Union Number: 302.

Counties: Norfolk.