Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington, Metropolitan Borough of]
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1913] 116
NOTIFICATION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Under the Provisions of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891.
Small Pox, Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria, Membranous Croup, Enteric or
Typhoid Fever, Typhus Fever Erysipelas, Continued Fever,
Relapsing Fever and Cholera.
There were 2,171 cases of these diseases which are notifiable under the
Public Health (London) Act, 1891 : for it must be recollected that there are
other infectious diseases, such as Tuberculosis, Ophthalmia Neonatorum,
Acute Poliomyelitis, and Cerebro-Spinal Fever, which are notifiable either
under Orders of the Local Government Board or under Orders of the London
County Council with the approval of that Board.
The cases are 594 more than were notified in 1912, and although less than
the average of the preceding 21 years, yet are 272 in excess of that of the
preceding ten years. The chief causes of the increase are to be found
in the returns from Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria, which showed respective
increases of 238 and 91. The increase in the number of cases of these diseases
was not, however, peculiar to Islington, but was common to the County of
London.
The figures for each of the infectious diseases and the average of each during the ten years 1903-1912, together with the departure from it, were as follows: —
1913. | Average 10 years. | Increase or decrease. | |
---|---|---|---|
Small Pox | — | 4 | - 4 |
Scarlet Fever | 1,317 | 1,079 | + 238 |
Diphtheria | 546 | 455 | + 91 |
Membranous Croup - | 4 | 3 | + 1 |
Enteric Fever | 50 | 99 | - 49 |
Typhus „ | — | — | — |
Erysipelas | 226 | 240 | - 14 |
Puerperal Fever | 28 | 19 | + 9 |
2,171 | 1899 | + 272 |
The behaviour of each disease is discussed under its appropriate heading
further on in the report.