London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Chelsea 1923
Annual report for 1923 of the Medical Officer of Health
This page requires JavaScript
Five-yearly Average Number of Annual Deaths, 1-5 years.
| Infectious Diseases. | Diarrhoea and Enteritis. | Tuberculosis. | Bronchitis and Pneumonia. | Other Causes. | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1901-5 | 36 | 7 | 15 | 27 | 18 | 103 |
| 1906-10 | 38 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 11 | 87 |
| 1911-15 | 26 | 3 | 8 | 13 | 12 | 62 |
| 1916-20 | 13 | 3 | 6 | 12 | 14 | 47 |
| 1921 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 18 |
| 1922 | 30 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 5 | 51 |
| 1923 | 5 | – | 1 | 11 | 4 | 21 |
Infectious and Other Diseases.
Measles.
There were no deaths from Measles in Chelsea in 1923. In 1922
there were 11 deaths, and in 1921 no deaths. The last considerable
epidemic in Chelsea was in 1915 (39 deaths). The disease began to
assume greater prevalence in the last six weeks of 1928, which is being
maintained in the present year (1924): up to the end of the first week
of March nine deaths have occurred.
The Health Visitors in the course of the year made 157 visits to
homes in connection with Measles cases, as against 439 in 1922. The
Nurses of the District Nursing Association paid 48 visits to 5 cases.
Eleven cases were removed to hospital, the total number of cases brought
to the notice of the Department in 1923 being 148.
Scarlet Fever.
During the year, 111 cases of Scarlet Fever were notified in Chelsea,
as against 197 in 1922. [There was only one death from this disease —
a child of 5 years. The case fatality rate was 0.9 per cent., as compared
with 3 per cent. in 1922. The average of the 5 years. 1916-20 was 1.0
per cent. Of the total cases notified, 95 per cent, were removed to
hospital, as against 91 per cent. in 1922. The month of greatest prevalence
was January (19 cases), and of least prevalence August (3 cases).
The percentage of cases of school age (3 to 13 years) was 71, as compared
with 69 in 1922.
Diphtheria.
During the year, 97 cases of Diphtheria were notified in chelsea,
as against 120 in 1922. The disease caused 11 deaths, at the following
ages, five months, and 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7, 9,11, 11 years. The case fatality
rate was 11.3, as compared with 11.7 in 1922, and 5.4 per cent. in 1921.
Of the total 97 cases. 90 per cent. were removed to hospital, as against
93 per cent. in 1922. The percentage of cases of school age (3 to 13
years) was 62, as against 56 in 1922. The month of greatest, prevalence
was February (20 cases), and the month of least prevalence November
(2 cases).
During the year medical practitioners sent 94 throat or nose swabbings
to the Lister Institute for bacterioscopic diagnosis, as compared with
73 in 1922. Of the 94 specimens, 9, or 9.6 per cent., afforded positive
evidence of the diphtheria bacillus, and 85, or 90.4 per cent., were negative,