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The death rate in each year since 1868 in relation to the mean death rate of the period
1869-97 is shown in diagram XV.
Of the four cases notified as typhus fever during 1897, one was not removed to the
hospital. The patient died, and the medical officer of health who made inquiry into the matter could
find no evidence to confirm the diagnosis. The remaining three were removed to the South-Eastern
hospital of the Metropolitan Asylums Board, but only in regard to one of the cases was the diagnosis
of typhus fever confirmed. In addition to this case, however, it should be stated that a case notified as
enteric fever was diagnosed after admission to hospital as a case of typhus fever. The following are
the particulars, concerning the five cases referred to—
A female, æi. 40, the wife of a Russian, living in Whitechapel, was certified to be suffering
from typhus fever on February 16th, and was removed to the South-Eastern hospital on
the following day. No source of infection could be traced. The case was not regarded at the
hospital as one of typhus.
A man, æt. 26, a dock labourer, living in St. George-in-the-East, was removed to
hospital on June 21st. The case was regarded at the hospital as one of typhus. The man began
to be ill on June 14th. The house in which he lived was in a cleanly condition, and no source
of infection was traced.
On August 9th, a man, aged 35, living in Battersea, was certified to be suffering from
typhus; he was removed to the South-Eastern hospital on August 11th, and his malady was
then diagnosed as pneumonia.
A wood carver, aged 72, living in Bethnal-green, was certified to be suffering from
typhus on October 16th; he died on that day. Inquiry was made concerning the illness by
the medical officer of health, but he found nothing to confirm the diagnosis.
A boy, aged 12, living in Bermondsey, was admitted to the South-Eastern hospital on
November 4th, certified to be suffering from enteric fever. The disease was diagnosed at the
hospital as typhus fever. The medical officer of health of Bermondsey was unable to trace
any source of infection.
Enteric Fever.
The number of cases of enteric fever notified in the Administrative County of London in 1897
(52 weeks) was 3,113, and the number of deaths belonging to the administrative county was 559,
compared with 3,196 cases and 564 deaths in 1896 (53 weeks).
The rates in 1897 and preceding periods are as follows—

The death rate from this disease in each year since 1868, in relation to the mean death rate of
the period 1869-97, is shown in diagram XVI.
Diagram XVII. shews the seasonal notification curve of enteric fever for the period 1890-97
and the year 1897. It will be seen that the maximum of the 1897 curve occurs a week later than the
maximum of the mean curve of the period 1890-97. There is, however, in 1897 no exceptional
divergence from the mean curve such as occurred at the end of the year 1894, and is referred to in an
appendix to my annual report for that year.
In the distribution of enteric fever mortality during the year, the central group of districts had
the highest, the southern group the lowest death rate. Of the several districts the City suffered most,
and Rotherhithe and Plumstead least during the year as a whole. During the first quarter of the year
the central and eastern groups of districts had the highest, the western and southern the lowest
mortality; during the second quarter, the northern group had the highest, the southern again the
lowest death rate; during the third quarter the central group had the highest and the western the
lowest mortality; during the fourth quarter the eastern group had the highest and the southern the
lowest mortality.
The case rate of each sanitary district in 1891-6 and in 1897, and the death rate in 1887-96
and in 1897 is shewn in the following table—
1 See footnote (1), page 7.
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