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 1911
Report for the year 1911 of the Medical Officer of Health
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44
Scarlet Fever.
The number of cases of scarlet fever notified in each of the last ten years is set out below.
| Year. | No. of Cases Notified. |
|---|---|
| 1901 | 214 |
| 1902 | 251 |
| 1903 | 165 |
| 1904 | 159 |
| 1905 | 170 |
| 1906 | 385 |
| 1907 | 314 |
| 1908 | 265 |
| 1909 | 241 |
| 1910 | 135 |
| 1911 | 125 |
No deaths occurred from scarlet fever in 1911. In 1910, 3 deaths
occurred. The number of cases per 1000 of the population was 1.46.
The corresponding figure in 1910 was 1.58.
Of the cases notified, 93, or 74 per cent., were removed to hospital.
The corresponding percentage in 1910 was 73.
The total number of houses attacked was 98. Twelve houses had 2
cases each, one house had 3 cases, and another house had no less than 6
cases. In all these instances the subsequent cases took the infection
directly or indirectly from the primary case. Throughout the year the
type of scarlet fever in Hampstead was very mild, as is shown by the
fact that no death occurred out of a total of 125 cases.
Careful inquiries were made in each case, with a view to ascertaining
the source of infection, and in 31 cases it was found that the patient had
been infected by a previous case. Five cases were infected outside
Hampstead, and four cases occurred among the staff of the NorthWestern
Fever Hospital. Four cases were discovered by the Medical
Officer of Health in consequence of information supplied by school
teachers.