London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Holborn 1898
Report of the Medical Officer of Health for the year ending December 31st, 1898
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10
Medical Officer's Report.
ZYMOTIC DISEASES.
During the year, the number of deaths from the principal zymotic
diseases was 102, the rate being 3.38 per 1000. The corresponding rate for
London was 2.77.
These rates are greater than the corresponding rates for last year. The
chief cause of the increase was the epidemic of measles.
The deaths from diphtheria, unfortunately, continue to increase.
During the past four years the number of deaths was: from—
| 1895. | 1896. | 1897. | 1898. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Measles | 45 | 32 | 8 | 36 |
| Small-pox | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Scarlet Fever | 6 | 0 | 4 | |
| Diphtheria | 7 | 9 | 17 | 21 |
| Whooping Cough | 8 | 26 | 19 | 12 |
| Typhoid Fever | 0 | 5 | 5 | 2 |
| Typhus Fever | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Diarrhoea | 24 | 19 | 35 | 29 |
| Totals | 90 | 93 | 88 | 102 |
The number of deaths in London from these diseases have been for the past four years:—
| 1895. | 1896. | 1897. | 1898. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Measles | 2,633 | 3,697 | 1,929 | 3,075 |
| Small-pox | 55 | 9 | 16 | 1 |
| Scarlet Fever | 829 | 942 | 780 | 583 |
| Diphtheria | 2,316 | 2,683 | 2,261 | 1,772 |
| Whooping Cough | 1,483 | 2,937 | 1,842 | 2,160 |
| Fever (Typhoid, etc.) | 629 | 609 | 593 | 598 |
| Diarrhoea | 3,600 | 3.223 | 4,104 | 4,376 |
| Totals | 11,545 | 14,100 | 11,525 | 12,565 |