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104
Probably the principal reason why the Zymotic death rate in
Plumstead is usually proportionately higher than the other rates
is that having a high birth rate and a very low infantile death
rate there are a specially large number of children at the ages
most susceptable to the infectious diseases.
B.—Infectious Diseases.
Notification and Prevention.
1. A total of 886 notifications was received by me during
the year, compared with 160 and 790 in the two preceding years.
This entailed 886 special visits by the Inspectors, besides a large
number visited in addition by myself; it also involved a large
amount of clerical work.
2. There was an increase under all heads except those of
Scarlet Fever and Puerperal Fever.
Small Pox.
3. There were 51 cases of Small Pox compared with 3 in
1892. 34 went to Hospital and 2 died. Of the 17 that did not
go to Hospital 6 were cases of mistaken diagnosis. All but 5 of
these cases occurred in the parishes of St. John and St. Nicholas,
The disease was prevalent all over London and was supposed to
have been carried here by tramps. It was very prevalent in the
parts of Woolwich frequented by tramps. As Plumstead Road
and High Street is the highway along which tramps would
naturally pass in going through Plumstead either to the Workhouse
or to the Woolwich lodging houses, and also the highway