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
Battersea 1904
Report on the health of the Metropolitan Borough of Battersea for the year 1904
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45
Diarrhœa.
Diarrhoea was the cause of 184 deaths, including 95
registered as due to epidemic or zymotic enteritis. The
death-rate was ro4 per 1,000, or .22 above the decennial
average '82. The death-rate in the County of London was ro2.
The number of deaths and the death-rate in the sub-districts are set out below :—
| No. of Deaths | Death-rate per 1,000 | |
|---|---|---|
| East Battersea | 90 | 1.21 |
| North-West Battersea | 76 | 1.53 |
| South-West Battersea | 18 | 0.34 |
One hundred and fifty-nine deaths, or 86.4 per cent. of the
whole, were of infants under one year, and 21 deaths were of
children aged from one to five years.
The deaths in each quarter of the year were as follows:—
| First quarter | 12 |
| Second ,, | 12 |
| Third ,, | 151 |
| Fourth ,, | 9 |
It will be seen that the exceptionally hot weather during
the third quarter of the year was responsible for a heavy
mortality from diarrhœa. Compared with former years,
however, the mortality is not so heavy as it would appear, as
many deaths are now certified as due to "epidemic enteritis"
or "zymotic enteritis" (conditions which are classified as
"diarrhœa") which would formerly have been certified as due
to "gastro enteritis" or "enteritis," and would, therefore,
have been classified under the heading " Enteritis."
In the early part of July the following leaflet was delivered
to every house in the borough:—