London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Southwark 1910

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southwark, Borough of]

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61
The annual death-rate from Diarrhœa per 1,000 living was 0.42.

Deaths from diarrhœa during the last ten years:—

19012221906225
19021691907101
19031971908188
19042821909113
1905183191090

TYPHUS FEVER.
No death occurred from this disease during the year, and no case
was notified.
MEASLES.
During the year under consideration the deaths from Measles
amounted to 225. This is the largest number of d( aths from the disease
since the inception of the Borough, or within my recollection of twentyfive
years of the district. This number of deaths would represent at
least 5,000 cases as occurring during the year, and exceeded the deaths
from Diarrheea and all the other notifiable diseases (excepting Phthisis)
put together.
Many reports have from time to time been made by Medical Officers
of Health on the advisability of Measles being scheduled as a dangerous
infectious disease notifiable in the ordinary way.
Whilst some have recommended all cases being notified, others have
advised only the first case in the family, whilst others again have
recommended the duty of notification being placed upon the parents.
The Southwark Borough Council have not taken any very decided
action for or against compulsory notification.
The mortality from Measles, or rather the excessive mortality, occurs
in this Borough from the want of proper accommodation in the homes,
and through the carelessness and ignorance shown by mothers and others
in the management of the cases. Often the patient is taken out aud
exposed to cold when the rash is just appearing, with the result that
severe inflammation of the lungs is set up.
The lack of hospital treatment for patients has been put forward as
an argument against, notification, also that where notification has been in
force for some years there has been found to be no diminution in the
number of cases in the district.