Medical officer reports

William Ranger's report from 1849 was commissioned by the Uxbridge Board of Health, first appointed in 1840, as part of a public enquiry into better understanding the situation of the standard of health in the district. Ranger's report found that outbreaks of cholera were mainly located in Paradise Row, George Street, Common Road and Morten's Yard. Ranger's report was also one of the first of its kind in Uxbridge that looked into the overcrowding problems of the lower classes and how such living conditions led to high infant mortality rates. He discovered many children died prematurely and nearly 30% would die before reaching their first birthday.

These annual reports were not just for medical practitioners. They helped push for a better system to be undertaken throughout the district. These reports assisted in getting the leaders of the district to give better attention to the living conditions of the district and those that were suffering as a result. They pushed and advocated for better vaccinations, housing, water supply and even cleaner conditions for slaughterhouses.

Clean water

The starting point for modern public health was water sanitation. After the publication of the medical officer reports from 1848, highlighting the outbreak of cholera in the district of Uxbridge, a Local Board of Health was established the following year. The initial goal for the board of health was to produce better quality water for the residents. This meant extensive works on better drainage and water works which took many years. This report from 1855 was meant for the proprietors and ratepayers, to explain where public money was going and what it was being used for.

The main supply for water in the area were wells. They were often shallow and the water was rarely clean. The water supply came from the Colne River, a place of industry and not a good supply for clean drinking water.

Edward Pratt

One of many campaigners was local resident Edward Pratt who worked towards creating a fresh supply of piped water into the town. A fountain was erected in 1901 to thank him for his advocacy, which can still be viewed in the old burial ground on Windsor Street, Uxbridge.

People's health

By the late 1880s the idea of public health started to shift and began to focus a little more on the health of the individual. 

The biggest threats to health in the Uxbridge district were mainly respiratory diseases such as bronchitis and whooping cough. The standard of health in 1895 was found to be especially bad in St Margaret's and Bell's Yard. Reports found that out of 100 children born annually, only 70 survived past the age of one.

The advent of the 20th century unfortunately did not leave behind such troubles - in 1901 there was an outbreak of smallpox in London which poured over into Uxbridge. Thanks to an Emergency Smallpox hospital by the Joint Hospital Board the outbreak was maintained and isolated and the district was able to avoid a epidemic. From 1,017 cases noted by medical officers, there were only 247 deaths, largely due to vaccinations that were being carried out in Uxbridge. 

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