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
Kensington 1915
Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health 1915
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The following Table shows the number of cases of diphtheria and the mortality during the
decennium 1901-1910, and the quinquennium 1911-1915: —
Diphtheria in Kensington, 1901-1915.
| Year. | Cases Notified. | Case-rate per 1,000 of population. | Deaths. | Death-rate per 1,000 of population. | Case-mortality per cent. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1901—1910 | 1,850 | 1.06 | 212 | 0.12 | 11.5 |
| 1911—1915 | 867 | 1.02 | 61 | 0.07 | 7.0 |
SCARLET FEVER.
During the year 414 cases of Scarlet Fever were notified (a case rate of 2.42 per 1,000 of
the population), and of these 11 proved fatal. The death-rate per 1,000 of the population was
0.06, and the case mortality 2.7 per cent. The seasonal incidence of the disease has already been
shown with that of diphtheria. The following Table shows the number of cases of Scarlet Fever
and the mortality during the decennium 1901-1910, and the quinquennium 1911-1915:—
Scarlet Fever in Kensington, 1901-1915.
| Year. | Cases notified. | Case rate per 1,000 of population. | Deaths. | Death rate per 1,000 of population. | Case mortality per cent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1901—1910 | 3,870 | 2.22 | 115 | 0.07 | 3.0 |
| 1911—1915 | 2,433 | 2.83 | 39 | 0.05 | 1.6 |
Defects in the drainage system were found in 33 of the houses where Scarlet Fever occurred.
ENTERIC FEVER.
The number of cases of Enteric Fever notified during the year was only 16, the number of
deaths being two. Such figures are too insignificant to afford a proper basis for discussing the
seasonal incidence and the fatality of this disease in Kensington. In the decennium 1901-1910, the
receipt of 529 notifications of typhoid fever and the occurrence of 86 deaths gave an annual average
of 53 cases and 9 deaths, and in the quinquennium 1911-1915, the notifications (88) and the deaths
(17) gave an annual average of 18 cases and 3 deaths. Defects in the drainage system were found
in two of the houses where Enteric Fever occurred.
PUERPERAL FEVER.
Eleven cases of puerperal fever were notified during the year, and of this number 3 proved
fatal. Of the 11 notifications, 7 were notified from Kensington Infirmary, 3 by private medical
practitioners, and one from a Hospital.
When a midwife has been in contact with infection, her washable clothing is boiled and othergvhj
clothing is disinfected by the staff of the Public Health Department. As soon as she has disinfected
herself, her clothing and her appliances to the satisfaction of the Supervising Authority, she is
allowed to resume her work. The premises where puerperal fever has occurred are inspected, but
they are not in ordinary circumstances disinfected.