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
Battersea 1925
Report on the health of the Metropolitan Borough of Battersea for the year 1925
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(restricted to the first case occurring in a house) is being observed.
There were 101 cases in addition to those notified under the Regulations
reported from the Public Elementary Schools and other
sources.
Measles Incidence and Mortality, 1921-5.
| 1921. | 1922. | 1923. | 1924. | 1925. | Mean. 1921-5. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cases notified | _ | 1,496* | 1,319 | 1,893 | 693 | 1,350 (4 yrs) |
| „ Reported | 149 | 1,564 | 369 | 530 | 101 | 543 (5 yrs) |
| Total | 149 | 3,060 | 1,688 | 2,423 | 794 | 1,623 (5 yrs) |
| Case-rate per 1,000 popln. 0-10 yrs. | 4.87 | 103.30 | 58.64 | 86.46 | 29.02 | 56.52 |
| Deaths | 2 | 66 | 24 | 51 | 4 | 29.4 |
| D.R. per 1,000 popln.(all ages) | .012 | .390 | .141 | .298 | .023 | .173 |
| D.R. per 1,000 popln. (0-10) | .065 | 2.228 | .834 | 1.820 | .146 | 1.019 |
| Mortality per 100 cases (Total) | 1 .345 | 2.157 | 1.422 | 2.105 | .516 | 1.809 |
* Measles was made notifiable in Battersea under the Battersea (Measles
and Whooping Cough) Regulations, 1922, which came into force on
April 24th of that year.
The disease became very prevalent during the last quarter,
and had assumed the proportions of a characteristic epidemic
during the last few weeks of the year. The mortality was however
compared with previous epidemics, remarkably low. This may be
accounted for by a less virulent type of infection, but so far as this
Borough is concerned, it is probably, in part at least, due to the
special precautionary measures carried out in conjunction with
notification. These are similar to those in operation in respect of
other forms of notifiable disease, and include, in addition to a
modified form of notification, systematic home visiting of notified
cases, removal to the Metropolitan Asylums Board's Hospitals,
where the home conditions are unsatisfactory, securing the provision
of medical treatment and nursing attendance of cases under treatment
in their homes, and in necessitous cases such other appropriate
assistance as may be needed. The London County Council School
Medical Service works in co-operation with the Public Health
Department of the Borough Council in measles outbreaks with
satisfactory results, so far as the recent scheme of co-operation
arranged between the County and Borough Medical Officers of
Health has been in operation in Battersea.