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
Islington 1893
Thirty-eighth annual report on the health and sanitary condition of the Parish of St. Mary, Islington
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67
in examining into the incidence of the disease since it assumed
such great proportions, I find that the number of cases per every 100
houses varies very considerably in the various districts. Thus in No. 3
there were only 0·65 cases to each 100 houses, while in No. 9 there
were 3·73 cases. And this is just what we might reasonably expect, for
whereas No. 3 district is inhabited for the most part by persons living
in good houses, with one family to each house, No. 9 is inhabited by
persons living for the most part in tenement houses.
The proportion of cases to houses, in order from lowest to highest in each district is as follows :—
| District 11 | 4.53 cases per 100 houses. |
|---|---|
| „ 14 | 5.0l „ „ „ |
| „ 3 | 5.05 „ ,, „ |
| „ 5 | 5.45„ ,, „ |
| „ 13 | 6.40 „ „ „ |
| „ 12 | 6.66 „ ,, „ |
| „ 10 | 7.68 „ „ „ |
| „ 8 | 7.75 „ „ „ |
| „ 1 | 8.63 „ „ „ |
| „ 7 | 8.67 ,, „ „ |
| „ 6 | 8.74 „ „ „ |
| „ 2 | 8.96 „ „ „ |
| „ 4 | 9.48 ,, ,, ,, |
| „ 9 | 12.04 „ „ „ |
In the same period the cases per 100 houses in the whole 14
districts taken together was
I do not know if the closing of the schools in August for the annual
holidays had anything to do with the fall in the Scarlet Fever curve,
but certainly after the first week it was very marked; and it is a
significant fact, that when the schools opened in September, the curve
at once rushed upwards. There can be no doubt that schools are a
considerable factor in the spread of infectious disease among young
children. This fact is so well recognised that I will not now discuss it.
£ 2