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
Battersea 1908
Report on the health of the Metropolitan Borough of Battersea for the year 1908
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It will be noted that the incidence of the disease, and more
especially the death rate, were highest in East Battersea.
The next table gives the age distribution of the cases notified and of the fatal cases:—
| Age Periods— Years. | Under 1 | 1-2 | 2 3 | 3-4 | 4-5 | 5-10 | 10-15 | 15-25 | 25-65 | Borough |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of Cases | 6 | 28 | 50 | 76 | 95 | 484 | 230 | 97 | 33 | 1,099 |
| No. of Deaths | - | 1 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 12 | - | - | 1 | 24 |
| Case Mortality per cent. | .. | 3.5 | 12.0 | 1.3 | 3.1 | 2.4 | .. | .. | 30 | 21 |
The above table is instructive, and shows that of the 1,099
persons reported to be suffering from Scarlet Fever during 1908,
255 (i.e., 23.2 per cent.) were under 5 years of age, and 739 (i.e.,
67.2 per cent.) under 10 years, while the mortality was greatest
among those under 5 years of age (i.e., 4.3 per cent.). Of the
360 persons over 10 years of age, 1 (i.e., 0.27 per cent.) died.
The causes responsible for the spread of infection from
Scarlet Fever in 1908 were, as in the two preceding years, twofold
in character:—
1. Mildness of the type of infection.
2. The Public Elementary Schools.
With regard to the first-mentioned, there is no doubt that the
virulence of Scarlet Fever varies in different epidemics, and it is
clear that the epidemic which commenced in 1905, and spread over
London, is of a mild type of virulence. This is shown both by
the low death rate from the disease and by the large number of
mild, unrecognised cases which have been brought to light as a
result of secondary cases, showing more pronounced clinical signs