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
Lewisham 1909
Annual report on the vital statistics and sanitary condition of the Borough of Lewisham and report of the Public Analyst for the year 1909
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The following epitome shows interesting comparisons with previous years and the average for seven years:—
| Borough of Lewisham. | Year. | Average for seven years. 1902-8. | Year. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1902 | 1903 | 1904 | 1905 | 1906 | 1907 | 1908 | 1909 | ||
| *Not including Puerperal Fever. | |||||||||
On reviewing the recorded incidence of Infectious
Disease, it will be found that 1,442 cases were notified during
the year, compared with 1,220 in 1908. The increase was
mainly due to the prevalence of Scarlet Fever, of which disease
903 cases were notified during the year, compared with 600 in
1908. On the other hand, it is satisfactory to note that
Diphtheria was less prevalent, 361 cases being recorded, against
458 in 1908.
In order to control the outbreak of Scarlet Fever, your
Medical Officer of Health made frequent visits to the various
schools in the Borough, and an examination of the scholars
often lead to the exclusion and subsequent examination in their
homes of suspected children. In this way many cases of
Scarlet Fever, which otherwise would probably have been
missed, were detected and isolated. In this work I received
considerable help and valuable assistance from Miss Jones and
Miss Stevens, your women Sanitary Inspectors, and also from