London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Shoreditch 1911

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch]

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cases of enteric fever have been so few in Shoreditch. The attack-rate was not
quite 0.2 per 1,000 population, as compared with 0.4 in 1910, 0.4 in 1909, 0.8 in 1908,
0.3 in 1907, 03 in 1906, 0.3 in 1905, 0.4 in 1904, and 0.8 in 1903. There was only
one death from the disease during the year, the death-rate being 0.00 per 1,000
population, as compared with 0.07 for 1910, 0.05 for 1909, 0.09 for 1908. 0.05 for
1907, 0.03 for 1906, 0.01 for 1905, 0.07 for 1904, 0.11 for 1903, 0.20 for 1902,
0.08 for 1901 and 0.11 for 1900. The rate for 1911 was the lowest so far recorded
for enteric fever in Shoreditch.
The case-mortality was at the rate of 4.5 per cent. of the cases certified
(five, deducting the cases not regarded as having been enteric fever) as compared
with 163 for 1910 and 12.2 for 1909. The case-mortality for the eighteen years
ending 1910 averaged 14.6 per cent. of the cases certified.

The distribution of the cases certified, and deaths amongst males and females in the Borough and the eight wards thereof during 1911, are shown in the subjoined table:—

Wards.ENTERIC FEVER.
Notifications.Fatal Cases.
Male.Female.Total.Male.Female.Total.
Hoorfields..11......
Church..33......
Hoxton224. .. ...
Wenlock134......
Whitmore..44......
Kingsland............
Haggerston145......
Acton1..11..1
Totals for Borough517221..1

The cases are grouped according to ages in Table II. (Appendix).
The whole of the cases of enteric fever certified during the year were removed
to hospital. Removal to hospital is a factor of the greatest importance for controlling
this disease, especially in a district like Shoreditch. Not only is it in the
patient's interest so far as nursing is concerned, but it means the removal of a
centre of infection in every case. Unfortunately, owing to the nature of the disease,
it is not usually recognised until the patient has been ill for at least a fortnight,
and sometimes for a considerably longer period. It is during this period that the
patient is most likely to spread infection and endanger the health of the
community.