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9
During 1893, the number of cases of infectious disease notified under the
Public Health (London) Act, 1891, amounted to 67,485, as against 46,074
in 1892, 26,522 in 1891, and 29,795 in 1890. Of these 67,485 cases,
36,901 were returned as scarlet fever, 3,663 as enteric fever, 22 as typhus,
13,026 as diphtheria, and 2,813 as small pox: the balance being made up
of 11,060 cases of other diseases notified under the Act, but not admissible
into the Board's hospitals.
The number of patients suffering from fever, diphtheria, and small pox who
were admitted into the several Hospitals of the Board, and the deaths
thereat during 1893 are as follows:—
Admissions. Deaths.
Scarlet Fever 14,548 901
Enteric (Typhoid) 544 110
Typhus 2 1
Diphtheria 2,848 865
Small Pox 2,376 180
It will be observed how heavy was the mortality from diphtheria,—
30.3 per cent of the cases terminated fatally. This is slightly higher (about
1 per cent.) than the case-mortality in Shoreditch. The mortality from
typhoid fever, which is nearly 20 per cent. of the cases, is also high.
Small Pox.—This disease, which had been prevailing in different parts
of the country, especially in the manufacturing towns in the North and
Midlands during 1892, showed its presence in London in the winter of
1892-93. Its introduction and dissemination within the Metropolis during
the early part of the year 1893, were mainly due to persons of the vagrant
class, who entered London from places in the provinces, where the disease
was prevalent. The number of cases notified increased from week to week
and attained a maximum in May.
There were 2,557 cases of small pox removed from their homes during the year.
The actual number of cases treated in the hospitals of the Asylums Board
amounted to 2,376, and the deaths numbered 180.
The number of patients admitted to the small pox hospitals was 98 in
January, 153 in February, 251 in March, 440 in April, and 537 in May.
Subsequently, the numbers declined from 327 in June, to 215 in July, 99
in August, 70 in September, and 77 in October. In November and
December, there were 128 and 89 admissions respectively.
In Shoreditch, 23 cases of small pox occurred. So far as could be ascertained,
in only 3 instances was the disease contracted in the parish. Two cases
were notified which were not regarded by the hospital authorities as
small pox.
The following is a brief summary of the cases of small pox occurring
in the parish during the year 1893:—