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 1913
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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The following Table shows the number of cases of diphtheria and the mortality during 1913 and in previous year:– Diphtheria in Kensington, 1901-1913.
| 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 | 212 | 1.23 | 20 | 0.12 | 9.4 |
| 1912 | 180 | 1.05 | 0.03 | 2.8 | |
| 1913 | 124 | 0.72 | 7 | 0.04 | 5.6 |
The disease in certain patients was severe in type, but the case fatality was well below the
average. The number of cases notified was less than in any year since 1900, amounting to 124,
as compared with extremes of 125 in 1905, 234 in 1907, and the annual average of 185 cases
during the ten years 1901—1910.
SCARLET FEVER.
During the year 552 cases of Scarlet Fever were notified, and of these only 3 proved fatal.
The seasonal incidence of the disease which has already been shown with that of diphtheria,
attained its maximum in Kensington as in the country as a whole during the month of November.
As in London and elsewhere the number of cases notified has been excessive and more than 165
above the annual average for the 10 years, 1901—1910.
The type of the disease was exceptionally mild, the case mortality being equivalent to only 5 deaths, as compared with an average of 30 deaths among every thousand cases in the last intercensal period. Scarlet Fever in Kensington, 1901-1913.
| The 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 | 227 | 1.32 | 3 | 0.02 | 1.3 |
| 1912 | 297 | 1.73 | 5 | 003 | 1.7 |
| 1913 | 552 | 3.21 | 3 | 0.02 | 0.5 |
In 193 instances inquiry elicited a definite history of contact with persons suffering from Scarlet
Fever. Forty-seven cases were due to infection in schools; 18 were due to contact with persons
recently discharged from hospital after an attack of Scarlet Fever; 11 arose from contact with
"missed cases" or persons who had suffered from unrecognised attacks of the disease. In 8 cases
the infection was derived from sources beyond the Borough. Nine patients acquired the disease
in hospital, 12 from playmates outside school, and 11 from fellow lodgers. Thirteen cases occurred
among the inmates of a convent school, and 4 in an orphanage. Defects in the drainage system
were found in 30 of the houses where Scarlet Fever occurred.
ENTERIC FEVER.
The number of cases of enteric fever notified during the year was 27, the number of deaths
being 6. 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