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
Southwark 1916
Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health for the year 1916
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54
SMALL POX.
No case of this disease was notified during the year.
No death from Small-Pox has occurred in the borough in the last
twelve years.
SCARLET FEVER.
During the year under consideration 301 cases were notified and
only five deaths. The notifications and the deaths are the lowest
recorded for the last ten years. The extensive spread of the disease
during 1914, which must have included the greater part of those
susceptible to the complaint, made itself felt in the immunity of the
inhabitants in 1916. With so few deaths in the year the disease must
have been of a very mild type.
The number of cases notified, as compared with London during the last ten years was:—
| In Southwark. | In London. | In Southwark. | In London. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1907 | 1,275 | 25,926 | 1912 | 500 | 11,312 |
| 1908 | 775 | 22,072 | 1913 | 880 | 17,552 |
| 1909 | 590 | 17,251 | 1914 | 1,448 | 25,015 |
| 1910 | 419 | 10,509 | 1915 | 467 | 17,104 |
| 1911 | 480 | 10,489 | 1916 | 301 | 8,766 |
The Wards most affected were St. John, All Saints, St. Mary and
St. Paul's Wards.
Number of deaths from Scarlet Fever during the last ten years:— In Southwark. In London. In Southwark. In London.
| 1907 | 35 | 644 | 1912 | 6 | 159 |
| 1908 | 24 | 548 | 1913 | 11 | 1S8 |
| 1909 | 14 | 383 | 1914 | 22 | 316 |
| 1910 | 9 | 214 | 1915 | 12 | 332 |
| 1911 | 6 | 172 | 1916 | 5 | 146 |
Of the 301 cases notified in the present year, as many as 293 were
removed to hospital, i.e., 97.3 per cent., as against 97.6 per cent. for
last year.
The deaths in the 293 cases sent to hospital numbered 5, a mortality
of 17 per cent.