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
St Pancras 1881
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]
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situated that they could not remain in their own homes without
infecting other people. It is therefore desirable that every
publicity should be given to the opportunities afforded by the
Vestry for the removal of such cases to hospital and for the
disinfection of their rooms and clothing. If all cases were
immediately reported, the Vestry would not necessarily have to
concern itself with the removal of a much larger number to
hospital, for by the early removal of cases occurring in houses
where the sufferers cannot be properly isolated, the spread of
Scarlet Fever would be limited.
Diphtheria.
Diptheria caused 70 deaths during last year, being twice
as many as occurred in 1880. The 70 deaths are in the proportion
of 14 to every 1000 deaths from all causes, while the
proportion to 1000 deaths during the previous ten years was
but 6.1. In London the proportion was only 8.0 or 6.0 less
than in St. Pancras during the same period. Reckoned upon
population there were l.7 deaths per 10,000 from this disease
in the whole of London, and in St. Pancras 2.9 deaths.
The relative number of deaths in the different sub-districts is shown in the following table:—
| Total Deaths. | Per 10,000 of Population. | |
|---|---|---|
| Regent's Park | 18 | 3.3 |
| Tottenham Court Road | 18 | 4.6 |
| Gray's Inn Road | 7 | 2.8 |
| Somers Town | 18 | 8.7 |
| Camden Town | 6 | 8.4 |
| Kentish Town | 18 | 2.0 |
But few of these cases came to the knowledge of the Sanitary
Department from any other source than the death
registers. The infectiousness of this disease is so little
understood that but few persons sought the aid of the Vestry
for the purpose of isolating their sick or disinfecting their
clothes and rooms, and only about 19 of the 70 deaths took
place in hospitals to which the sufferers had been removed.
The Vestry will recollect that this disease was made the
subject of a special inquiry during the year. A circular letter
was, by order of the Sanitary Committee, addressed to every
Metropolitan Medical Officer of Health, with a view to ascertaining
how far it was felt desirable in the Metropolis,
that the Sanitary Authorities should give opportunity
for the isolation of persons suffering from Diphtheria, by
removing the sick to hospital.
An offer had been made by the authorities of University
College Hospital to remove to the London Fever Hospital, at