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 1903
Annual report for 1903 of the Medical Officer of Health
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15
Prevalence of Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria, and Enteric Ferer, in
West London.
The following Table is based upon the notified cases of scarlet
fever, diphtheria and membranous croup, and enteric fever, recpestively,
in each of the six boroughs constituting West London, the rates being
calculated upon the estimated population of each district.
TABLE XII.—Notifications per 10,000 of Population in 1903.
| Scarlet Fever. | Diphtheria. | Enteric Fever. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chelsea | 27.9 | 13.4 | 1.7 |
| Kensington | 18.5 | 9.0 | 3.4 |
| Paddington | 28.6 | 10.3 | 2.9 |
| Hammersmith | 27.7 | 14.3 | 5.1 |
| Fulham | 27.4 | 20.0 | 5.4 |
| Westminster | 19.7 | 10.4 | 4.0 |
| West London | 24.1 | 12.6 | 3.9 |
| London | 27.2 | 16.7 | 5.1 |
The prevalence of all these diseases was notably lower in London
in 1903 than in 1902. As usual the prevalence was less in the six
boroughs constituting West London than in the Metropolis as a whole.
Chelsea had the lowest enteric fever rate of any of the Western
Boroughs in 1903, whilst Kensington had the lowest scarlet fever and
diphtheria rates. Fulham again had the highest diphtheria rate, but
the prevalence in 1903 was 33 per cent, less than in 1902.
Removals to Hospitals.—Table XIII. exhibits the removals of
patients suffering from scarlet fever, diphtheria, and enteric fever, from
their homes to hospitals, in each of the 14 years, 1890-1903, expressed
as percentages of the total number of cases notified.
TABLE XIII.—Percentage Removals to Hospitals.
| Scarlet Fever. | Diphtheria. | Enteric Fever. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | 38 | 20 | 29 |
| 1891 | 40 | 15 | 22 |
| 1892 | 48 | 27 | 32 |
| 1893 | 50 | 41 | 38 |
| 1894 | 71 | 58 | 63 |
| 1895 | 55 | 62 | 51 |
| 1896 | 61 | 56 | 56 |
| 1897 | 76 | 67 | 54 |
| 1898 | 74 | 74 | 54 |
| 1899 | 77 | 76 | 69 |
| 1900 | 81 | 80 | 71 |
| 1901 | 78 | 63 | 72 |
| 1902 | 90 | 83 | 67 |
| 1903 | 91 | 88 | 62 |