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
Islington 1899
Forty-fourth annual report on the health and sanitary condition of the Parish of St. Mary, Islington
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174
1899
Exact figures are only available for 1898 up to the end of its
first six months, in which period only ro6 per cent. escaped
vaccination under the conscience clause.
These exemptions then cannot account for the large per centages
of cases not finally vaccinated that obtained in 1897, 1898,
and in the first six months of 1899, when it was again high, namely,
30:7 per cent.
As the returns for these periods are of the deepest interest I give them in full.
| 1897. | 1898. | 1899. (Six months) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Births, number of | 9,878 | 9,478 | 4,911 |
| 2 Successfully vaccinated | 6,539 | 5,422 | 2,88l |
| 3 Insusceptible to vaccination | 30 | 44 | 49 |
| 4 Had Smallpox | — | — | — |
| 5 Died unvaccinated | 954 | 1,068 | 527 |
| 6 Exemptions under sec. 2, Act '98 | 14 | 103 | 52 |
| 7 Postponed by Medical Certificate | 220 | 251 | 220 |
| 8 Removed to other districts | 81 | 92 | 55 |
| 9 Removed to places unknown | 1,205 | 1,421 | 776 |
| 10 No. of cases unaccounted for | 835 | 1,070 | 351 |
| 11 Percentage of exemptions under sec. 2, Act 1898 | 0.14 | 1.09 | 1.o6 |
| 12 Percentage of cases exempted by Medical Certificate | 2.22 | 2.65 | 4.48* |
| 13 Percentage of cases not finally accounted for and for which no vaccination certificates have been received | 24.0 | 32.2 | 30.7 |
When one compares these figures with those which obtained
from 1872 down to as late as 1891 he cannot fail to notice, and also
to regret, the great change for the worse that has overtaken vaccination
in Islington.
* This proportion is very high, and there is grave doubt that it will be considerably
reduced by the time the final returns for the year are made up, as I am informed that
the Public Vaccinators are unwilling to vaccinate children that have the least rash or
blemish.