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2 7
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
Of Small-pox 127 cases were notified, compared with 31 in
1901 ; of Scarlet Fever 1,063, compared with 684; of Diphtheria,
750, compared with 469 ; of Enteric Fever 139, compared with 96 ;
of Puerperal Fever 21, compared with 14; and of Erysipelas 235,
compared with 219.
Thus there has been a very considerable increase in all the
notifiable diseases compared with the previous year, or with any
year since notification has been compulsory. The only previous
year in which the notifications were over 2,000 was in 1893, when
2,224 were received.
Since the 7th February, by an order of the London County
Council, Chicken-pox was made notifiable, and from that date to
the 31st December, 1,408 cases were notified, although it could
hardly be said to be present in epidemic form in any particular part
of the Borough.
The total number of cases notified per 1,000 persons living
was 9-5, compared with 6-4 in 1901, and 6-7 in 1900. In the
several sub-districts the rates were as follows:-—-Clapham 9-5,
compared with 71; Putney 5 ■ 6, compared with 3 • 2 ; Streatham
7 • 9, compared with 5 • 3 ; Tooting 13-9, compared with 8 ■ 6 ; and
Wandsworth 11 • 1, compared with 7-6. In the County of London
this rate was 9-9, compared with 8-8 in 1901.
Three cases of Small-pox, six of Scarlet Fever, 20 of Chickenpox,
and 20 of Erysipelas were notified from the Workhouse ; two
of Scarlet Fever, and three of Enteric Fever from the Middlesex
County Lunatic Asylum; one of Erysipelas from the Royal
Hospital for Incurables ; three of Small-pox and two of Erysipelas
from the Prison ; one of Scarlet Fever and four of Erysipelas from
the Tooting Home; one of Scarlet Fever and one of Diphtheria
from the Fountain Fever Hospital; and five of Scarlet Fever, seven
of Diphtheria, and four of Enteric Fever from the Grove Fever
Hospital; a total of 83 notifications received from public institutions
in the Borough, compared with 54 in 1901.
SMALL-POX.
The outbreak of Small-pox, which commenced in July, 1901,
continued till August, 1902, and 127 cases were notified during