View report page

5
Zymotic Death-rate.—The death-rate in Chelsea from the seven
principal zymotic diseases was 1.57 per 1000 in 1907, the corresponding
rate for London being l.44. In 1906 the zymotic death-rate in Chelsea
was 2.46 per 1000.

Measles.—This disease caused 41 deaths in 1907, as compared with
58 in 1906. Twenty-five deaths were registered in North Chelsea, and
16 in South Chelsea. All the deaths, with two exceptions, were of
children under 5 years of age, namely: 7 under one year of age, and
32 between one and five years of age. The prevalence of measles in
Chelsea last year was somewhat unusual, as the disease had been
epidemic in 1906, and it is characteristic of this complaint that the
year succeeding an epidemic is usually very free from it. There were
no deaths from measles in the first quarter of 1907, but the disease
became prevalent in the spring, and continued throughout the summer
and autumn. Possibly the cold and inclement summer was in part
responsible for the continuance of measles at a time when it is usually
but little prevalent.
Scarlet Fever.— This disease caused only 2 deaths in 1907, as
compared with 9 in 1906. Both were deaths of South Chelsea residents,
and both were fever hospital patients. Scarlet fever was very prevalent
in London, as a whole, in the latter half of 1907.
Diphtheria.—This disease caused 8 deaths in 1907, as compared
with 16 in 1906. Three of the fatal cases were residents of North
Chelsea, and 5 of South Chelsea. All but one of the deaths occurred
in hospital.