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
Chelsea 1893
Annual report for 1893 of the Medical Officer of Health
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Table VII.—Chelsea.
| Deaths in 1893. | Average number of Yearly Deaths in 1884-92. | |
|---|---|---|
| Measles | 20 | 66 |
| Scarlet Fever | 32 | 15 |
| Dipththeria | 48 | 28 |
| Enteric Fever | 17 | 14 |
| Whooping Cough | 68 | 62 |
Influenza.—The number of deaths referred to influenza, as a
primary or secondary cause of death, amounted to 33 in 1894, as
against 84 in 1892, 90 in 1891, and 18 in 1890. In London, deaths
have been recorded from influenza in every week of the year, but
from June to November the mortality was very trifling. In the
latter month, however, the weekly mortality figures again rose,
indicating a renewed epidemic prevalence, the maximum figure of
164 deaths being reached in the weekending December 16th.
Respiratory Diseases.—The death-rate from diseases of the
respiratory organs was o-5 per 1,000 lower than in 1892, and was
equal to the average rate of the years 1884-89, prior to the appearance
of epidemic influenza The fact of the respiratory disease
death-rate in 1893 not being in excess of the average of the anteinfluenza
period, although influenza claimed its fair proportion of
victims in Chelsea as compared with the whole of London, is no
doubt to be attributed to the genial spring and warm summer of
the year—climatic conditions not favourable to pulmonary disease
mortality.
Table VIII.—Respiratory Diseases. Death-rate fer 1,000 ter Annum.
| Years. | Chelsea. | London. |
|---|---|---|
| 1884-89 (inclusive) | 4.3 | 4.2 |
| 1890 (1st Influ. epidemic) | 4.4 | 5.0 |
| 1891 (2nd „ „ ) | 5.5 | 5.3 |
| 1892 (3rd „ „ ) | 4.8 | 4.6 |
| 1893 (4th „ „ ) | 4.3 | 4.6 |
Tubercular Diseases.—The death-rate from phthisis and other
tubercular diseases in 1893 in Chelsea, was 27 per 1,000—a rate
identical with that of the metropolis generally. The average deathrate
from these diseases in Chelsea during the nine years 1884-92
was 3.17 per 1,000.
Cancer — Malignant cancerous diseases caused 71 deaths amongst
Chelsea parishioners. The average of the nine years 1884-92 is
75 deaths annually from cancer in Chelsea.