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19
Under
1
1
to
5
5
to
15
35
to
45
45
to
55
55
to
65
65 &
upwards.
15
to
25
25
to
35
All
Ages.
Occupations.
Night Watchmen
1
1
2
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
2
Office Cleaners
2
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Paper Bag Making
2
2
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
1
Plasterer
1
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Printing Trade
6
4
5
3
18
...
...
...
..
...
Railwa y Checker
1
1
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
River Police
1
1
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Road Sweeper
1
1
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Stoker
1
1
...
...
..
...
...
...
...
...
Sackmakers
1
1
2
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Sailor
1
1
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Soldiers
2
2
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Sailmaker
1
1
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Ship's Fireman
1
1
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
1
1
Ship's Steward
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Sawyer
1
1
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
1
1
2
Stevedores
...
..
...
...
...
...
...
...
17
Scholars
17
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
1
Teacher
1
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Tanner
1
1
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Telegraphists
2
2
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Tin Work
3
1
1
5
...
...
...
...
...
...
Tobacco Hand
1
1
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Waiter
1
1
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Watcher (Customs)
1
1
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Waitress
1
1
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Warehousemen
1
3
2
2
8
...
...
...
...
...
Wood Work
1
1
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Whitesmith
1
1
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Wireworker
1
1
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
1
1
Undertaker
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
12
5
1
33
No occupation
11
3
1
...
...
...
1
29
32
11
147
No information
44
29
1
...
...
Totals
...
12
94
125
133
92
36
531
29
10
Cerebrospinal Meningitis.
Cerebro-spinal meningitis is an acute inflammation of the membranes which cover the
brain and spinal cord. Owing to the particular part of the body which it attacks the
symptoms are essentially " nervous" in character, the first stage being characterised by
irritation by the inflammation, and the latter stages of coma are due to the pressure of the fluid
on the nerve centres with the consequent driving away of blood and suspension of their
activities. The cause of the disease is the micro-organism known as the Diplococcus
Intracellularis Meningitidis. It is believed to be infectious under certain conditions, but the
mode of spread is as yet a mystery. It is probable that it occurs in the secretions of the nose
and throat and is from thence transmitted from person to person in a somewhat similar manner
to diphtheria; but this point is not yet settled. It occurs in two forms—the sporadic and the
epidemic, and in this respect it resembles many other infectious diseases. In the sporadic form
(if posterior basic meningitis be included) it is always more or less with us, the victims being in
the majority of cases young children. It will attack a member of the family, but shows
very little inclination to spread, and, for this reason, has not been classed among the
infectious diseases. The epidemic form, however, seems to be distinctly infectious and may
spread rapidly over the community. Considerable outbreaks have recently occurred in
Glasgow and Belfast, and there was a fear at one time that the disease would extend
beyond these limits and possibly reach London. The County Council decided therefore, in
March, 1907, to extend the provisions of sec. 56 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, to
cerebro-spinal meningitis, making it notifiable for a period of six months. This was renewed in
September for a further period of eighteen months. In the second order the Council considered
that posterior basic meningitis, which is caused by the same micro-organism as the epidemic
form and has been known for a long time in London, should be included in the term "cerebrospinal
fever," but that cases of meningitis due to other causes, such as that due to tuberculosis,
syphilis, middle-ear disease, or injury, should not be included in this term.
The London County Council followed the same custom as they have done on previous
occasions in smallpox by issuing inquiry forms to each of the sanitary authorities, having these
sent to the Central Health Office, there to be duplicated and sent out to all the authorities. In
this way every medical officer in the metropolis was kept informed of the progress of the disease
in the various boroughs. There were 132 cases and 25 deaths in London during the year
under report.