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The deaths numbered 8, and the death-rate due to scarlet fever during 1902 was
006 as compared with 017 per 1,000 in 1901. The figures for 1902 are exceptionally
low for Shoreditch, and are the lowest recorded for more than 40 years in the Borough.
The mortality was nil in Shoreditch South and very low in Haggerston. The number
of persons who suffered from scarlet fever was at the rate of 2.1 per 1,000 inhabitants,
as compared with 4.7 in 1901 and 2.7 in 1900. The mortality was at the rate of 3.3
per cent. of the attacks, as compared with 3.5 in 1901, 5.4 in 1900, 4.1 in 1899, 4.7 in
1898, 4.9 in 1897, and 5.4 in 1896. Amongst children under five years of age there
were 93 cases certified, with five deaths, the mortality being 5.3 per cent. (5.7 allowing
for the cases not regarded as being scarlet fever at the fever hospitals), as compared
with 6.8 per cent. in 1901, 12 per cent. in 1900, and 9.1 per cent. in 1899. Amongst
those who had the disease aged five years and upwards there were 3 deaths, the
mortality being just under 2 per cent., as compared with 1.7 per cent. in 1901 and 1.5
per cent in 1900.
The number of cases of scarlet fever certified in London during the year under
consideration was 18,246, the attack-rate being 3.9 per 1,000 inhabitants, as compared
with 4.4 in 1901, 3 0 in 1900, 3.9 in 1899, and 37 in 1898. The deaths numbered 560,
as compared with 584 in 1901 and 361 in 1900, the death-rate being 0.12 per 1,000, as
compared with 0.13 in 1901, 0.08 in 1900, 0.09 in 1899, and 0.13 in 1898.
DIPHTHERIA (INCLUDING MEMBRANOUS CROUP).
Of the above disorder 223 cases were certified. Intimations were received from
the Metropolitan Asylums Board that in 27 of these the patients were not suffering
from diphtheria. The cases were fewer in number than in any year since 1892. The
deaths numbered 24, the smallest number in any year since the notification of the
disease became compulsory. A table showing the numbers of cases and deaths from
1890 to 1901 is contained in the report for 1901. The death-rate due to diphtheria
was 0.18 per 1,000 as compared with 0.23 in 1901, 0.45 in 1900, and 0.52 in 1899 (see
Appendix, Table VI.)
The disease during 1902 was of a somewhat severer type than in 1901, the case
mortality being 10.7 per cent. of the cases certified. Excluding the cases not regarded
as diphtheria by the authorities at the fever hospitals the case mortality was 12.2 per
cent. The case mortalities for previous years were:—8.8 in 1901, 15.3 in 1900, 17.0
in 1899, 17.3 in 1898, 22.1 in 1897, 21.0 in 1896, 24.1 in 1895, 24.0 in 1894, and 29.0
in 1893. Where the patients were under five years of age, of the cases certified 20.5
per cent. (22.3 allowing for cases not regarded as diphtheria by the hospital authorities),
terminated fatally as compared with 15.4 per cent. in 1901, 22.7 in 1900, 34.2 in 1899,
29.5 in 1898, 36 0 in 1897, 31.8 in 1896, 47.5 in 1895, 43.0 in 1894, and 61.0 in 1893.
Of the cases certified amongst persons aged five years and upwards 0.9 per cent.
(TO allowing for the cases not regarded as diphtheria at the hospitals) terminated