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 1902
Annual report for 1902 of the Medical Officer of Health
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The death-rate for 1902 is rather higher than that of 1901, which
is chiefly accounted for by higher mortalities from measles and diseases
of_ the respiratory organs prevailing in the past year.
Zymotic Death-rate.—The death-rate in Chelsea from the seven
principal zymotic diseases was 2 22 per 1,000 in 1902, the corresponding
rate for London being 2.43 per 1,000. In 1901 the zymotic deathrate
in Chelsea was only l.56 per 1,000. The increase in 1902 is due
to the greater prevalence of measles, small-pox, scarlet fever, and
diphtheria. Whooping-cough and diarrhœl diseases, were, however,
less prevalent in 1902 than in 1901.
Table VI.—For the year 1902.
| Zymotic death-rate. | Diarrhoea death-rate. | Phthisis death-rate. | Other tubercular diseases death-rate. | Respiratory diseases death-rate. | Cancer death-rate. | Influenza death-rate. | Deaths under 1 year to 1,000 births. | Percentage of deaths under 5 to total deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chelsea | 2.22 | 0.69 | 1.48 | 0.39 | 4.14 | 1.01 | 0.27 | 145 | 29.2 |
| London | 2.43 | 0.74 | 1.61 | 0.59 | 3.45 | 0.99 | 0.23 | 141 | 34.7 |
| Table VI.—For the year 1902. | |||||||||
| Zymotic death-rate. | Diarrhoea death-rate. | Phthisis death-rate. | Other tubercular diseases death-rate. | Respiratory diseases death-rate. | Cancer death-rate. | Influenza death-rate. | Deaths under 1 year to 1,000 births. | Percentage of deaths under 5 to total deaths | |
| Chelsea | 2.22 | 0.69 | 1.48 | 0.39 | 4.14 | 1.01 | 0.27 | 145 | 29.2 |
| London | 2.43 | 0.74 | 1.61 | 0.59 | 3.45 | 0.99 | 0.23 | 141 | 34.7 |
Small-pox.— Seven deaths of Chelsea residents from small-pox were
registered in 1902 (see " Report on Small-pox," p. 13).
Measles.—This disease caused 68 deaths in 1902, as compared with
8 only in 1901. Forty-three of the deaths were registered in Chelsea
North, and 25 in Chelsea South. Ten of the deaths were of infants
under 1 year of age. Fifty-two were between the ages of 1 and 5,
and 5 were between the ages of 5 and 15. Out of the 68 deaths, 60
occurred in the 2nd quarter of the year when the disease was epidemic.
The epidemic was of remarkably short duration, being practically
confined to the 13 weeks of the 2nd quarter.
Scarlet Fever.—This disease caused 8 deaths in 1902, as compared
with 5 in 1901. All the deaths were of fever hospital patients, 6 being
of Chelsea North residents, and 2 of Chelsea South residents.
Diphtheria.—This disease caused 13 deaths in 1902, as compared
with 9 only in 1901. Of the 13 deaths, 5 were between 1 and 5 years
of age, and 7 between 5 and 15; 10 were residents in Chelsea North,
and 3 in Chelsea South. Eight of the deaths were of fever hospital
patients, and 5 died at their own homes.
Chelsea continues to be fairly free from diphtheria, as the following
Table shows;—