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 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]
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A comparison of the death rates shown in the above table will
indicate the steady progress that has been made in reducing the
mortality from this disease. Particularly it will be noted that the
last four epidemics together show a fatality rate per 100 cases of
0.7, as compared with 1.2 for the preceding four epidemics, while
in the same groups the death rate per 1,000 population has been
nearly halved.
Whooping-Cough.
The new Regulations referred to under the previous heading
embraced this disease as well as Measles. The local Order of 1922,
which was rescinded by the new Regulations, also applied to both
diseases, so that Whooping-Cough has been compulsorily notifiable
in Battersea for nearly seventeen years.
During 1938 there were 325 cases of Whooping Cough notified
to the Medical Officer of Health and 163 other cases were reported
from the public elementary schools and other sources.
The total number of cases notified or otherwise reported was
488, as compared with 917 in 1937, 783 in 1936, 1,065 in 1935, and
682 in 1934, the decrease in 1938 compared with 1937 being 46.8
per cent. Of the total cases, notified and reported, 56 were removed
to hospital.
There were 3 deaths registered from this disease, the deathrate
being 0.02.
Whooping-Cough, 1938, and Ten Previous Years.
| Year. | Cases. | Deaths. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notified or reported. | Per 1,000 population. | Registered. | Per 1,000 population. | Per 100 cases. | |
| 1928 | 1,228 | 7.48 | 14 | 0.085 | 1.14 |
| 1929 | 1,317 | 8.14 | 43 | 0.266 | 3.26 |
| 1930 | 537 | 3.34 | 7 | 0.044 | 1.30 |
| 1931 | 747 | 4.67 | 5 | 0.031 | 0.67 |
| 1932 | 1,109 | 7.06 | 11 | 0.070 | 0.99 |
| 1933 | 976 | 6.34 | 12 | 0.078 | 1.23 |
| 1934 | 682 | 4.52 | 7 | 0.046 | 1.03 |
| 1935 | 1,065 | 7.19 | 9 | 0.061 | 0.85 |
| 1936 | 783 | 5.38 | 11 | 0.076 | 1.40 |
| 1937 | 917 | 6.39 | 9 | 0.063 | 0.98 |
| Average | 936 | 6.05 | 13 | 0.082 | 1.28 |
| 1938 | 488 | 3.44 | 3 | 0.021 | 0.61 |
TUBERCULOSIS.
During the year ended 31st December, 1938, there were 220
cases of Tuberculosis (all forms) notified in Battersea as compared
with 226 in 1937, 232 in 1936, 237 in 1935, and 236 in 1934.
In addition 27 cases were reported, or otherwise came to the
knowledge of the Medical Officer of Health during the year, making
a total of 247 cases, the same number as in 1937.
The following table (required by the Ministry of Health)
shows the age and sex distribution of these 247 cases of Tuberculosis,
and of the 101 deaths registered as due to the disease.