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

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St Martin-in-the-Fields 1893

Report of the Medical Officer of Health for the year 1893

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5
Small-pox.—One parishioner died of this disease. She was a
young woman residing in Bedfordbury. On the case coming to my
notice I had her at once removed to the Metropolitan Asylums
Board Hospital, where she died nine days after admission. I subsequently
learnt that she had been vaccinated in infancy only.
During the year, 11 cases of this complaint were notified, in
accordance with the Public Health Act.
Small-pox was very prevalent in London during the year. I
have reason to believe that these periodical outbreaks of this
disease are due to the neglect of vaccination, and I am sorry to see
the silly prejudice springing up against so beneficient a measure.
In March a letter was addressed to your Clerk, by the London
County Council, calling attention to the dissemination of Small-pox
by persons frequenting Casual Wards, Salvation Army Shelters, and
Common Lodging Houses, and urging the desirability of special
facilities being afforded for the vaccination of the employes and
lodgers of all such houses. The letter was subsequently handed to
me for the purpose of taking action. I, therefore, called upon Mr.
Snell, the Vaccination Officer to the Strand Union, to ask him to
grant facilities for this object. He very willingly, and readily,
assented to my request, and promised that the Medical Officer would
attend in the evening at auy of the Common Lodging Houses and
vaccinate any persons who so wished.
Measles.—Only 1 death was due to this disease.
Scarlet Fever.—Again, this year, we had another epidemic of
this complaint, and, as in the previous year, 1892, caused a great
strain on the Managers of the Metropolitan Asylums Board in
finding accommodation for so large a number of cases.
One death only, of a young man belonging to this Parish,
occurred in the London Fever Hospital.
During the year 100 cases were notified, against 54 of the
previous year.