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 1908
Report on the health of the Metropolitan Borough of Battersea for the year 1908
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107
years. The death rate in East Battersea was 0.28, North-West
Battersea 0.42, South-West Battersea .06.
The London death-rate for Measles was .32 per 1,000, there
being 1,524 deaths registered from this cause. It is probable
that these figures do not fully represent the total loss of life due
to this disease, many deaths being registered as due to bronchitis
and other respiratory diseases which are common complications
and sequel® of Measles. Measles and Whooping-cough between
them caused many more deaths in Battersea than all the other
notifiable diseases put together, the figures being: Measles and
Whooping-cough, 86 ; all other notifiable diseases, 65.
The number of deaths registered in each of the registration sub-districts in 1906, 1907 and 1908:—
| 1908. | 1907. | 1906. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Battersea | 22 | 36 | 28 |
| North-West Battersea | 21 | 27 | 14 |
| South-West Battersea | 4 | 9 | 2 |
The variability of incidence in mortality during the last three
years is exhibited in the above figures.
Ten deaths were of infants under one year, and 34 of children
aged one to five years. Only three deaths occurred among
children over five years of age.
The deaths in each of the four quarters of the year were as
follows:—
First quarter 14
Second quarter 24
Third quarter 2
Fourth quarter 7
Measles is usually spread through the medium of schools,
especially the infant departments. Closure of these latter should,
during the earlier stages of an outbreak, be more freely resorted
to, and would tend to reduce the high rate of mortality from this
disease in London. There are indications that this procedure is
being more generally recognised and followed.