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 1898
Annual report for 1898 of the Medical Officer of Health
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Table VII.—Zymotic Disease Mortality in Kensal Town in 1898.
| Actual number of Deaths in Kensal Town. | Kensal Town's proportion of total Chelsea Deaths according to its population. | |
|---|---|---|
| Measles | 28 | 20 |
| Scarlet Fever | 5 | 3 |
| Diphtheria | 19 | 9 |
| Whooping Cough | 10 | 6 |
| Enteric Fever | 4 | 3 |
| Diarrhoea | 45 | 30 |
Table VIII.— Zymotic Mortality in Chelsea in 1898.
| Deaths in 1898. | Average Number of Deaths Annually in 1884—07. | |
|---|---|---|
| Measles | 92 | 59 |
| Scarlet Fever | 14 | 19 |
| Diphtheria and Membranous Croup | 41 | 50 |
| Enteric Fever | 14 | 14 |
| Whooping Cough | 26 | 57 |
| Diarrhoea | 140 | 100 |
Enteric Fever.—The mortality from enteric fever (14 deaths) was
equal to the average of the past 14 years. Of the 14 deaths, 4 belonged
to Ken sal Town.
Diarrhoea.—The deaths in Chelsea in 1898 from diarrhceal diseases
(diarrhoea, cholera, gastro-enteritis, and enteritis) were 140 in number,
and far exceeded the mortality of any recent year, except 1897. All
but 9 of the 140 deaths were of children under five years of age, the
great majority of these being infants under one year. Of these 140
deaths, 45 were deaths of Kensal Town residents, Kensal Town's
proportion of the total in accordance with its population being only 30
deaths. The excessive prevalence of diarrhoea commenced early in
August, reached its maximum about the middle of the month, and was
sustained at a high level quite up to the end of September. In the
nine weeks ending the first of October, 98 out of the total of 140 deaths
were registered. In Loudon generally there was a similar excessive
incidence of diarrhceal diseases, the death rate during the past year
being the highest recorded since 1868.