View report page

1910] 124
ENTERIC FEVER.
The return was the lowest known since the introduction of the notification
of infectious diseases. Only 89 cases were reported, as against a corrected
average of 157 in the preceding 10 years, and they were equal to an attack
rate of 0.27 per 1,000, as against a mean rate of 0.48.
How different this return is to those experienced from 1891 to 1900, when
they averaged 242 per annum, and even to the first five years of the new
century, when they averaged 179. In 1906, 149 cases were notified, but since
then there has been a considerable reduction. Thus, for instance, in 1907,
92 cases were known; in 1908 97, in 1905 95, and last year, as already stated,
only 89 cases were notified. Clearly the diminution of this disease has gone
on pari passu with the improved sanitary conditions of the borough, although
it must not be forgotten that those seasonal influences which usually prevail
when the disease is rife were more or less absent during the last four years, and
consequently we find not only a diminution in the cases of Enteric Fever, but
also of diarrhoea and its allied complaints.
In the Sub-Districts.—The number of cases notified in the several
sub-registration districts are all below the averages of the preceding 8 years.
Thus the cases in Tufnell fell from an average of 9 to 7; in Upper Holloway
from 14 to 13 ; in Tollington from 12 to 5; in Lower Holloway from 18 to 13;
in Highbury from 23 to 9 ; in Barnsbury from 27 to 20, and in Islington
South-East from 27 to 16. From these returns it is seen that all parts of the
borough enjoyed a diminished number of attacks.
Hospital Isolation.—Altogether 65 cases, or 73.0 per cent., were isolated
in hospital. While 24, or 27.0 per cent., remained at home for treatment.
Fatality.—As 17 deaths occurred among the 89 cases, the fatality was
19.1 per cent. Unlike diphtheria, there is very little change in the fatality
from this disease, for an examination of the returns shows that in the five
years, 1891-1895, there were 1,088 cases and 187 deaths, and therefore a
fatality of 17.1 per cent. From 1896 to 1900 there were 1,334 cases, and
219 deaths, or a fatality rate of 16.4 per cent., from 1901 to 1905 there were
894 cases and 148 deaths, or a fatality rate of 16.5 per cent.; while from 1900
to 1910 there were 522 cases and 79 deaths, with a fatality rate of 15.1 per
cent.