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

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Chelsea 1895

Annual report for 1895 of the Medical Officer of Health

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Only 11 deaths were attributed to Measles in 1895, as against 69
in 1894. The mortality from Whooping-cough was nearly identical
with that of 1894, there being 35 deaths in 1895, as against 38 in
1894. The mortality from Enteric Fever (14 deaths) was equal to the
average of the past 12 years.
Diphtheria.—57 deaths were due to this disease, as against 49
deaths in 1894, the average of the 11 years, 1884-1894, being 32
deaths annually. Chelsea's figure for the past year is now in excess of
Chelsea's proportion of the total diphtheria deaths in London (see
Table V.). It is noteworthy that whilst diphtheria as a cause of
death has been steadily increasing since 1891, croup has been decreasing.
In 1895, no deaths were registered as being due to croup. This is
probably due to the fact that illness, which would formerly have been
certified as croup by the medical attendant, is now returned as
diphtheria. The following (Table IV.) shows the annual mortality in
Chelsea from diphtheria and croup during the 12 years, 1884-95, and
whilst it is very suggestive of the fact that the preventive measures
which are now taken to control the spread of this disease have had little
or no effect in diminishing its mortality, yet it also shows that throat
disease of a fatal character was as prevalent in 1884-5 as it has been
in 1893-4-5.

Table IV.—Fatal Throat Disease in Chelsea in 12 Years.

Year.Diphtheria.Croup.Diphtheria and Croup.
1884313061
1885332154
1886281038
188719726
188814923
188923932
189056864
1891161430
1892341347
189348957
189449554
18955757

Scarlet Fever.—This disease was again very prevalent in 1895, and
is credited with the causation of 25 deaths. During the last quarter oi
the year the Metropolitan Asylums Board Fever Hospitals were unable
to admit all the patients applying for admission, and, in consequence
numerous cases in Chelsea experienced a delay of one or more days in
removal, whilst others were treated in their own homes during the entire
period of illness.