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
Kensington 1875
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington]
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18
SPECIAL CAUSES OF DEATH.
Zymotic Diseases.—The year was not characterised by any
remarkable epidemic: the total deaths from the seven principal
diseases of this class being only 372, or 9.6 below the average of
ten years, although the population had increased by about 29,000.
The deaths occurred in registration sub-districts as follows:—
| Town. | Brompton. | Total. | Deaths. per 1,000 deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Pox | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Measles | 12 | 11 | 23 | 8.2 |
| Scarlet Fever | 58 | 25 | 83 | 29.5 |
| Diphtheria | 15 | 8 | 23 | 8.2 |
| Whooping Cough | 87 | 20 | 107 | 38.4 |
| Fever | 18 | 11 | 29 | 10.4 |
| Diarrhœa | 95 | 12 | 107 | 38.4 |
| Total | 285 | 87 | 372 | 133.1 |
It will be seen that the deaths in the Town registration sub-district
were 285, and in Brompton 87. This is an increase in the
latter district of 31 over 1874, and a decrease in the "Town" of 47.
Total decrease 16. The deaths were equivalent to an annual
rate of 2.5 per 1,000 persons living, and to 133 per 1,000 deaths,
the average of ten years being 2.5
The deaths in all London from these diseases were 178 per 1,000
deaths, and in all England, in 1873 (latest year of publication),
181.
There Was not one fatal case of small pox during the year. The
most fatal zymotic disease was:—
Whooping Cough, the deaths from which (107) were just double,
the (uncorrected) average number in ten years; 87 occurred in the
Town sub-district, and 20 in Brompton.
Measles caused only 23 deaths—less than half the (uncorrected)
average, viz., 12 in the "Town" and 11 in Brompton,—19 in the
winter quarters, and 4 in the summer quarters.
Scarlet fever.—The deaths from this disease 83, (58 in the "Town"
and 25 in the Brompton sub-district), were 10 above the (uncorrected)
average in 10 years.
Diphtheria caused 23 deaths (3 below the number in 1874); 15
took place in the town, and 8 in the Brompton sub-district.
"Fever."— The total deaths from the diseases at present classed
under this head were 29 (about 18 below the uncorrected average),
viz., Typhus fever 2 (both in the "Town);" Enteric fever 21 (12
in the Town and 9 in Brompton); and Simple continued fever 6,
4 in the Town and 2 in Brompton.
Diarrhœa was the cause of death of 107 persons (95 in the
Town and 12 in Brompton), the uncorrected average number in
ten years being 116. Ninety-eight of the deaths were those of
children under 5 years of age (76 under one year), and 5 of persons
above the age of 65. The deaths were as usual most