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 1907
Report on the health of the Metropolitan Borough of Battersea for the year 1907
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63
Notifiable Infectious Diseases.
During the year 1907 under the Notification Clauses of
the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, 1,463 cases of infectious
diseases have been reported, and of this number, 1,265,
86.5 per cent., were removed to the hospitals of the Metropolitan
Asylums Board or to other hospitals, and 198, i.e. 13.5
per cent., remained under treatment at their homes. It is
satisfactory to note the very large percentage (larger than in
any previous year with the exception of 1906, when the rate
was very slightly higher, viz., 88 per cent.) of cases removed
to hospital, showing the growing favour with which the
isolation hospitals are being looked upon. This must be considered
a highly satisfactory state of things, and it is becoming
increasingly evident that the public are beginning to realise
the impossibility in the majority of instances of retaining these
cases at home, and that only by prompt removal to, and
isolation in hospital can the spread of dangerous infectious
diseases be prevented, more especially in crowded localities.
Examining the removals to hospital more in detail
| Scarlet fever | 96.3 |
| Diphtheria and membranous croup | 94.6 |
| Enteric fever | 81.0 |
| Puerperal fever | 53.8 |
| Erysipelas | 22.5 |
The number of cases notified in the three sub-districts of the Borough and the proportion per 1,000 of the inhabitants are as follows :—
| Total Number of cases notified. | Notification per 1,000 of the Population. | |
|---|---|---|
| The Borough | 1,463 | 8.0 |
| East Battersea | 590 | 77 |
| North-West Battersea | 569 | 11.4 |
| South-West Battersea | 304 | 5.3 |