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 1903
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington, Metropolitan Borough of]
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22 FEVER.
"FEVER." (Including Enteric, Typhus and Continued Fevers).
| Borough. | London. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1903 | 1902 | 1903 | 1902 | |
| Cases | 47 | 84 | 2,408 | 3,463 |
| Deaths | 8 | 13 | 370 | 541 |
| Morbidity | 0.31 | 0.56 | 0.50 | 0.74 |
| Fatality | 17.0 | 15.4 | 15.0 | 15.6 |
| Mortality | 0.05 | 0.07 | 0.07 | 0.11 |
The 47 notifications of "fever" in the Borough comprised 43 of enteric fever, 3 of continued
(2 being subsequently diagnosed as enteric) fever, and one of typhus fever (erroneously so
diagnosed). The 2,408 notifications in the Metropolis comprised 2,344 of enteric, 41 of
continued, 22 of typhus, and 1 of relapsing fever.
Enteric Fever.—The 40 cases of enteric (and continued fever) in the Borough represented
a further fall, the cases having numbered !)2 in 1901, and 84 in 1902. In the Metropolis the
cases of these diseases (if thev represent distinct diseases) were 3,251 in 1901, 3,470 in 1902,
and 2,385 in 1903. In comparison with the decennial averages the cases of enteric fever
reported last vear represent declines equal to 47 and 30 per cent, of the respective averages in
the Borough and the Metropolis. The various averages are set out below:—
Enteric Fever. Including Continued Fever.
| 1903. | Averages. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Five years. 1893—97. | Five years. 1898—1902. | Ten years. 1893—1902. | ||
| London | 2,835 | 3,678 | 3,803 | 3,746 |
| Borough | 46 | 76 | 91 | 83 |
| St. Mary | 32 | 53 | 67 | 60 |
| St. John | 6 | 16 | 13 | 14 |
| North-West Paddington | 8 | 7 | 11 | 9 |
The only Wards in which any considerable number of cases occurred last year were
Church, where 10 cases were reported (compared with 20 in 1902) and Queen's Park 8
(compared with 10 in 1902). In all the other Wards the cases were considerably fewer than
in 1902. (See Table 9.)
In comparison with the adjacent districts the reported cases (40) were fewer in the
Borough than in any district except Hampstead (29 cases) while the morbidity rate for
the Borough was the lowest of all. (See Tables 7 and 8). In 0 streets only did more than
1 case occur during the year, viz.:—
1903. 1902.
C. H. C. H.
Alfred Road (IV.)* 2 2 — —
Cirencester Street (V.) 6 3 1 1
Droop Street (I.) 2 2 2 2
Dudley Street (V.) 2 2 — —
Kilburn Lane (I.) 2 2 — —
Marlboro' Street (IV.) 3 1 — —
* For explanation of roman numerals see page 17 (foot note).
In 1902, 13 streets had two or more cases.
Multiple cases occurred at 5 houses, viz., 2 cases in each of 4 houses (2 cases in 2 houses,
1902) and 3 cases in one house (the same in 1902).
In respect of 10 cases there was reason (more or less substantial) for regarding the
diagnosis as erroneous, and in 11 cases the infection was contracted outside the Borough.