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
Hampstead 1908
Report for the year 1908 of the Medical Officer of Health
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Detailed information concerning Small-pox, Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria, and Fever will be found under the heading of Notifiable Infectious Diseases on pages 43-48, but particulars concerning Measles, Whooping Cough, and Diarrhoea, to which notification does not apply, are given here.
| Year. | Seven Principal Epidemic Diseases. | Measles. | Whooping Cough. | Diarrhœa. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Death rate per 1000 of the population. | Death rate per 1000 of the population. | Death rate per 1000 of the population | Death rate per 1000 of the population. | |
| 1901 | 0.77 | 0.12 | 0.29 | 0.04 |
| 1902 | 0.69 | 0.17 | 0.11 | 0.04 |
| 1903 | 0.49 | 0.09 | 0.18 | 0.05 |
| 1904 | 0.55 | 0.17 | 0.09 | 0.15 |
| 1905 | 0.43 | 0.09 | 0.11 | 0.02 |
| 1906 | 0.55 | 0.11 | 0.02 | 0.21 |
| 1907 | 0.45 | 0.12 | 0.13 | 0.05 |
| 1908 | 0.40 | 0.04 | 0.05 | 0.12 |
Measles.
Four deaths were recorded from this disease, as compared
with 11 in 1907.
The mortality was 0.04 per 1000 population, the mortality in
1907 being 0.12.
Measles is now included amongst the dangerous infectious
diseases to which Sections 60.65, 68.70, and 72.74 of the Public
Health (London) Act, 1891, apply. These sections extend the
provisions relating to isolation and disinfection to measles, but they
do not make the disease compulsorily notifiable.
During the year 1908, 280 cases were reported to the Medical Officer of Health, as compared with 347 in 1907. The sources of information were as follows:—
| Cases notified by medical practitioners | 10 |
| „ parents or guardians | 83 |
| „ school teachers | 181 |
| „ employers and others | 4 |
| Death Returns | 2 |
| 280 |