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21
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
The Council's scheme with reference to the nursing of cases of
Measles was during the year extended to Whooping Cough. Six
cases were nursed, and 73 visits were made by the nurses.
Disinfection of Schools.
During the year eight schools in the Borough were disinfected,
on account of cases of infectious disease having occurred among
the scholars attending these schools.
Epidemic Influenza.
834 deaths (164 in Clapham, 75 in Putney, 241 in Streatham,
81 in Tooting and 273 in Wandsworth), occurred during the year.
The total number of deaths from Influenza, viz., 834, with a
death-rate of 2.85 per 1,000 living, is the highest number and rate
from this disease that has ever been recorded since the year 1890,
when it first appeared in the registration returns, and, as will be
seen from the Tables, 91 per cent. of the deaths occurred during
the last quarter of the year.
The deaths from Influenza represents 19 per cent. of the total
mortality from all causes.
Deducting the average rate for this disease for the last 10
years, which was .20 per 1,000, then this shows an increased deathrate
of 2.65 from Influenza alone, which would reduce the total
mortality from all causes to 12.42, corresponding to the average
death-rate for the last 10 years.
The outbreak of fatal Influenza which commenced about the
1st October, and continued to the end of the year, was the cause of
no fewer than 760 deaths. In addition, there were 170 deaths
from Pneumonia, many of which were possibly due to Influenza.
Of the 760 deaths from Influenza, 151 occurred in Clapham, 74
in Putney, 213 in Streatham, 74 in Tooting, and 248 in Wandsworth.
The following Table shows the total deaths from Influenza
and Pneumonia in the various parishes in the Borough for the year,
and in detail since the beginning of the outbreak in October.