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 1911
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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Report of the Medical Officer (Education).
127
The natural history of measles is not yet quite clear. Certain unknown factors affect the
prevalence of all the zymotics. To eliminate the effect of chance epidemics figures are taken for about
20 years from tables published by the Registrar-General. Rates per million living have been calculated
for various countries and several diseases to show the variation in their relative prevalence.
The zymotics affecting the same elements of the population are comparable with each other in the same country.
| 1887 to 1908. | Deaths per million living. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | France. | Prussia. | Austria. | Belgium. | Holland. | U.S.A. | |
| Measles | 354 | 810 | 260 | 382 | 457 | 258 | 101 |
| Scarlatina | 135 | 171 | 275 | 511 | 158 | 31 | 104 |
| Diphtheria | 199 | 864 | 750 | 788 | 315 | 127 | 87 |
| Tubercular consumption | 1,425 | - | 2,160 | 3,470 | 1,368 | 1.608 | 12,627 |
In the case of the United Kingdom these figures can be still further sub-divided.
| Deaths per million living. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom. | England and Wales. | Scotland. | Ireland. | |
| Measles | 354 | 386 | 413 | 168 |
| Scarlatina | 135 | 149 | 141 | 71 |
| Diphtheria | 199 | 228 | 177 | 81 |
| Tubercular consumption | 1,425 | 1,343 | 1,780 | 2,165 |
Scotland and England with birth rates of 29.6 and 29.2 respectively are comparable, Scotland
having the higher measles death rate, although children do not begin school till at least a year later than
in England. The age and sex distribution of the Irish population, the low birth rate (only about 23.1),
scattered and sparse child population, and possibly defective registration will account for the zymotic
Figure 7.—London. Crude annual death rates for measles, scarlatina and diphtheria to shew secular
variation 1885-1911.