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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Enteric Fever.—This disease caused 4 deaths, two from North
Chelsea, and two from South Chelsea. Two of the deaths occurred in
hospital, and two at the patients' own homes.
Table V.—Zymotic Disease Mortality in Chelsea, in 1903.
| Actual number of deaths in Chelsea. | Chelsea's proportion of total London deaths according to its population. | Average number of deaths annually in Chelsea, 1896-1902. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Measles | 14 | 33 | 41 |
| Scarlet Fever | 2 | 6 | 10 |
| Diphtheria | 4 | 12 | 30 |
| Whooping Cough | 29 | 26 | 28 |
| Enteric Fever | 4 | 6 | 9 |
| Diarrhœa | 40 | 62 | 81 |
Diarrhœa.—The deaths in Chelsea in 1903 from diarrhœal diseases
(diarrhoea, dysentery, cholera, enteritis, and gastro-enteritis) were 40 in
number, as compared with 52 in 1902. Thirty of the deaths were of
infants under 1 year of age, and 4 were between 1 and 5 years of age.
Eighteen were deaths of North Chelsea residents, and 22 of South
Chelsea residents. The summer diarrhœa prevalence of 1903, like those
of 1901 and 1902, was slight owing to the cold and wet weather in
July and August.
Table VI.—Mortality from Diarrhceal Diseases.
| Year. | Chelsea. | London. |
|---|---|---|
| Death-rate per Million. | Death-rate per Million. | |
| 1896 | 1,037 | 1.112 |
| 1897 | 1,340 | 1,446 |
| 1898 | 1,258 | 1,556 |
| 1899 | 1,282 | 1,663 |
| 1900 | 1,187 | 1,251 |
| 1901 | 788 | 1,184 |
| 1902 | 692 | 737 |
| 1903 | 541 | 837 |
Influenza.—The number of deaths attributed to influenza amounted
to 6, as against 20 in 1902. Two deaths occurred in North Chelsea,
and 4 in South Chelsea. In London generally the disease was but
slightly prevalent, only 644 deaths occurring in 1903, as against 1,083
in 1902. Of the fatal cases in London in 1903, 350 ocourred in the
first quarter of the year.