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
Paddington 1897
Report on vital statistics and sanitary work for the year 1897
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A comparison of the death-rates from selected causes in 1889
and 1897 will be of interest:—
Death-Rates per 1,000 of the Population.
| 1889 | 1897 | |
|---|---|---|
| Measles | 0.09 | 0.01 |
| Scarlet Fever | 0.06 | 0.15 |
| Whooping Cough | 0.22 | 0.31 |
| Diphtheria | 0.33 | 0.51 |
| Fever | 0.13 | 0.05 |
| Diarrhœa | 0.53 | 0.84 |
| Zymotic Rate | 1.39 | 1.90 |
| Puerperal Pever | 0.08 | 0.01 |
| Other Septic Diseases | 0.14 | 0.07 |
| Cancer | 0.82 | 0.90 |
| Phthisis | 1.27 | 1.04 |
| Other Tubercular Diseases | 0.46 | 0.56 |
| Bronchitis | 1.65 | 1.59 |
| Pneumonia | 1.16 | 0.76 |
Nothing has been done yet to give effect to the Reports of
the Royal Commission on Vaccination, or of the Commons' Committee
on Food Products Adulteration. Amendments are very
generally desired, and very needful. The varying influences
brought into play make the task of the Government in drafting
fresh legislation an unenviable one—that is so far as the political
aspect of the case is concerned.
With regard to the needs of a Disinfecting Station worked
by the Vestry, and of better office accommodation, I have nothing
to add to my remarks of last year.