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
Hackney 1921
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]
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34
Scarlet Fever or Scarlatina.— The number of cases of scarlet
fever notified during 1921 was 1,892, but of these 29 were found
afterwards not to be suffering from this disease, thus the number of
genuine cases was reduced to 1,863. This is an increase of 786
cases upon the number of genuine cases notified during 1920. The
prevalence of the disease each week throughout the year is shown
on the chart.
The attack rate for scarlet fever was 8.3 per 1,000 persons
living. The number of cases removed to hospital during the year
was 1,729. This is equal to 92 per cent. of the total notified.
The following table shows the distribution of scarlet fever in the respective Sub-districts of the Borough:—
| Sub-Districts. | North. | Central. | South-west. South-east. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of cases of Scarlet Fever | 437 | 453 | 469 504 |
| Attack-rate per 1,000 living | 77 | 85 | 81 88 |
It will be seen from the above that scarlet fever was most
prevalent in the South East Sub-district.
The deaths from scarlet fever during 1921 numbered 14, which
is equal to a case mortality of 0.75 per cent. attacked, and a
scarlet fever death-rate of 0.064 per 1,000 inhabitants. The mortality
rate for London from scarlet fever during the same year
was 0.06 per 1,000 inhabitants.
Diphtheria and Membranous Croup.—There were 961 cases of
diphtheria and membranous croup notified during the year; but
of these 89 cases of diphtheria were found subsequently not to be
suffering from this disease, thus the total of genuine cases of
diphtheritic disease was reduced to 872. This is an increase of 108