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78
The nineteen instances of dampness confirmed by the Sanitary Inspectors have been
remedied.
Lighting, Ventilation and Cleanliness.
The information yielded by the visits of the Health Visitors in regard to lighting, ventilation
and cleanliness of the houses confirmed the findings set forth in the First Annual
Report ot the Kensington Rheumatism Scheme. Once again the figures for the cleanliness
of the rooms show the worst results and it is clear that dirt, untidiness and infestation with
vermin are not infrequent in the houses in which the notified children live. We do not suggest
that an aetiological connection should be assumed, but further investigations on this
point are being proceeded with during the third year of the Scheme
Distribution of the Notified Cases within the Borough.
The 105 cases notified during 1928-1929 are distributed in a way similar to that of the
1927-1928 notifications and a consideration of a map of the Borough on which has been spotted
the houses of the combined notifications for the two years 1927-1929 shows a definite grouping
in the " poor " areas of the Golborne. Norland and St. Charles Wards of North Kensington.
In the First Annual Report of the Rheumatism Scheme, we stated that about 90 per cent,
of the acute rheumatism notifications came from North Kensington. The same figure was
found to apply to the distribution between North and South Kensington of the second year's
notifications ; and the combined figures show that in a series of 264 notifications, only 9.5
per cent, came from South Kensington.
The distribution of any disease will be related to density of population ; the more people
available for attack the more cases will occur. It has been shown that as judged by
notifications, 90 per cent, of the acute rheumatism in children under sixteen years occurs
in North Kensington, the ratio of the population of North Kensington to that of South
Kensington being 9:8. Now the incidence of a disease is also related to the number of
susceptible persons, and in the case of a malady such as juvenile rheumatism, which has a
particular age incidence, the population must be corrected for age ; therefore, the ratio of the
total number of children under sixteen in North and South Kensington has been calculated.
This calculation based on the Census figures for 1921 corrected by the births and child deaths
for each year since 1921 is presented below.
Ward.
Total
Population
(1921 Census).
Estimated child
population under
16 years of age in
1929.
Notifications of acute
rheumatism under 16
years of age.
1927-28. 1928-29.
Norland
Golborne
St. Charles
Pembridge
North Kensington
Holland
Queen's Gate
Redcliffe
Earl's Court
Brompton
South Kensington
22,106
26,329
24,268
19,969
92,675
18,874
13,777
19,865
17,912
12,759
83,187
7.701
9,410
7,147
4,436
28,694
2,898
1,177
2.702
2,423
1,263
10,463
55 28
44 39
34 22
14 6
147 95
9 3
1 0
1 6
1 1
0 0
12 10
North Kensington has 73.3 per cent, of the children under sixteen years of age and
91.7 per cent, of the notified cases : South Kensington has 26.7 per cent, of the children
under sixteen years of age and 8.3 per cent, of the notified cases ; the notifications for
1927-28 and 1928-29 have been combined. Thus, a correction for age of the population of
North and South Kensington does not appear to invalidate the view put forward in the First
Annual Report of the Rheumatism Scheme that poverty and density of population are
factors closely related to the incidence of juvenile rheumatism.
*To be read in conjunction with the First Annual Report of the Rheumatism Scheme of the Royal Borough
of Kensington published last year.