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

London County Council 1893

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]

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43
Influenza, Bronchitis and Pneumonia.
In 1892 the number of deaths attributed to influenza and to pneumonia was greatly in excess
of the average of the preceding ten years. The deaths attributed to bronchitis were below the average.
So again in 1893 the number of deaths from the first two diseases was above, and from bronchitis
below the average. In 1893, however, the deaths attributed to influenza and bronchitis were fewer, and
from pneumonia greater than in 1892. The number of deaths attributed to these diseases in 1892 and
1893, was as follows—

Table: The number of death attributed to these diseases in 1892 and 1893, was as follows-

The number of death attributed to these diseases in 1892 and 1893, was as follows-

Year.InfluenzaBronchitisPneumonia
Deaths.Corrected annual average for preceding ten years.Deaths.Corrected annual average for preceding ten years.Deaths.Corrected annual average for preceding ten years.
18922,264318.711,18311,23006,1645,171.9
18931,526556.210,41311,250.07,1985,341.6

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Although a few deaths from influenza occurred in each week of the year 1892, the chief
prevalence occurred in the first two months of the year. In 1893 there were two periods of maximum
prevalence. In March and April the number of deaths though numbering less than 50 in each week
were considerably in excess of the numbers registered in the months preceding and following this
period. In the latter part of November and in December the disease again attained epidemic prevalence,
the increase of deaths from influenza being accompanied by an increase in the deaths attributed to
bronchitis and pneumonia. The number of deaths in this period is shown on the following table—

Table:

Week of year."Week ending.Influenza deaths.Bronchitis.Pneumonia.
Deaths.Corrected average for corresponding week of preceding ten years.Deaths.Corrected average for corresponding week of precediDg ten years.
1893.
44Nov. 48191233.8125107.1
45„ 1120220241.5137109.7
16„ 1822318253.5228112.2
47„ 2536384262.8215121.8
48Dec. 274426259.1248115.1
49„ 9127491268.4266113.2
50„ 16164421281.6232112.8
51„ 23147387305.7203121.4
52„ 30108306404.6157136.8

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The reports of all the medical officers of health do not afford information as to the number of
deaths attributed to influenza in their districts, but the following table gives this number so far as can
be learnt from these reports—

Table:

Estimated population, middle of 1893.Deaths in 1X93.Estimated population, middle of 1893.Deaths in 1893.
West—East—
Paddington120,42175Shoreditch123,44036
Kensington167,02993Bethnal-green129,62040
Hammersmith103,04417Whitechapel75,17831
Fulham104,73539St. George-in-the-East45,49321
Chelsea98,18233South—
St. George, Hanover-square76,04313St. George, Southwark59,9537
St. James, Westminster24,0005Newington117,67233
North—St. Olave12,9036
Hampstead73,38050Bermondsey84,24616
Pancras233,93669Rotherhithe40,0209
Islington327,919123Wandsworth172,14364
Hackney240,58486Camberwell245,14382
Central—Greenwich171,12028
St. Giles38,64118Lewisham98,25854
St. Martin-in-the-Fields14,0344Woolwich41,85410
Strand23,7886Plumstead94,59635
St. Luke41,57710

Table: Phthisis. The deaths from phthisis registered in London in 1893 numbered 8,179. The death rates of this disease per 1,000 living in successive periods have been as follows—

Phthisis. The deaths from phthisis registered in London in 1893 numbered 8,179. The death rates of this disease per 1,000 living in successive periods have been as follows—

1851-602.8618912.00*
1861-702.8418921.88*
1871-802.5118931.90*
1881-902.09

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* Bee footnote (*), page 6.