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 1895
Annual report for 1895 of the Medical Officer of Health
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Table V.—Zymotic Disease Mortality in Chekea in 1895.
| Actual number of Deaths in Chelsea. | Chelsea's proportion of total London Deaths according to its population. | |
|---|---|---|
| Small Pox | 1 | 1 |
| Measles | 11 | 60 |
| Scarlet Fever | 25 | 19 |
| Diphtheria | 57 | 53 |
| Whooping Cough | 35 | 34 |
| Enteric Fever | 14 | 14 |
| Diarrhœa | 123 | 82 |
| Influenza | 68 | 49 |
The Diarrhœa mortality was more than double that which occurred
in 1894. The heat and drought of the summer season of 1895 were in
marked contrast with the temperature and rainfall prevailing in 1894,
and, as usually occurs, there was a notable prevalence of infantile
diarrhoea in the hot, dry season.
Table VI.—Zymotic Mortality in Chelsea.
| Deaths in 1895. | Average number of Yearly Deaths in 1884-94. | |
|---|---|---|
| Measles | 11 | 62 |
| Scarlet Fever | 25 | 17 |
| Diphtheria | 57 | 32 |
| Enteric Fever | 14 | 14 |
| Whooping Cough | 35 | 60 |
Influenza.—The number of deaths referred to influenza, as a
primary or secondary cause of death, amounted to 68 in 1895, as against
28 in 1894, 33 in 1893, 84 in 1892, 90 in 1891, and 18 in 1890. In
London, deaths have been recorded from influenza in every week in the
year, amounting to a total of 2,156. But of this total no fewer than
1,570 deaths, or 72.8 per cent, of the total, occurred in the 6 weeks
ending March 30th.
Respiratory Diseases.—The death-rate from diseases of the respiratory
organs was 4.54 per 1,000, or 1.54 per l,000higher than in 1894,
which was the lowest recorded rate of the 10 years preceding. The
increased rate of mortality in 1895 is in greater part attributable to the
prevalence of influenza, of which disease pneumonia is at the same time
a common and very serious complication, and in less part to the long
period of excessive cold in the early part of the year.