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
Islington 1914
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington, Metropolitan Borough of]
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1914]
98
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.
The return for the year was not a satisfactory one for it showed that
2,947 cases were notified, as contrasted with a decennial average of 1,957—
an increase of 990 cases. They were equal to an annual attack rate of 9.08
per 1,000 inhabitants, as contrasted with 6.54 in 1913, and with 7.63 during
the preceding 22 years.
The disease which showed increases are seen below, and are each separately discussed under their several headings: —
| 1914. | Average 10 years. | Increase or decrease. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Pox | — | 3 | 3 |
| Scarlet Fever | 1,853 | 1,130 | + 723 |
| Diphtheria | 651 | 467 | + 184 |
| Membranous Croup | 8 | 4 | + 4 |
| Enteric Fever | 76 | 92 | - 16 |
| Typhus „ | — | — | — |
| Erysipelas | 334 | 241 | + 93 |
| Puerperal Fever | 25 | 20 | + 5 |
| 2,947 | 1,957 | + 990 |
It is remarkable that although there were many more cases than usual,
yet the proportion of deaths to cases showed only a small decimal increase as
contrasted with the preceding year.
The returns for the preceding 22 years are given in the following statement : —
| Years | Cases. | Attack-rates per i,ooo inhabitants. | Years. | Cases. | Attack-rates per 1,000 inhabitants. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1892 | 3,318 | 10.26 | 1903 | 1,707 | 5.12 |
| 1893 | 4,853 | 14.84 | 1904 | 1,941 | 5.84 |
| 1894 | 3,121 | 9.44 | 1905 | 1,928 | 5.81 |
| 1895 | 2,839 | 8.50 | 1906 | 2,275 | 6.87 |
| 1896 | 3,824 | 11.32 | 1907 | 2,063 | 6.25 |
| 1897 | 2,906 | 8.62 | 1908 | 2,289 | 6.82 |
| 1898 | 2,418 | 7.18 | 1909 | 2,049 | 6.23 |
| 1899 | 2,943 | 8.75 | 1910 | 1,525 | 4.65 |
| 1900 | 2,276 | 6.78 | 1911 | 1,759 | 5.37 |
| 1901 | 2,852 | 8.52 | 1912 | 4.83 | |
| 1902 | 3,164 | 9.29 | 2,171 | 6.54 | |
| 1892-1913 | 55,798 | 7.63 | |||
| 1914 | 2,947 | 9.08 | |||