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 1905
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington, Metropolitan Borough of]
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FEVER. 23
9 secondary) were due to infection received outside the Borough. In certain other cases—
the patients having had food in other Districts—similar importation of infection was
suspected. Shellfish was known to have been eaten by 7 patients within the limits of the
incubation of the disease, but no evidence could be obtained of such fish being the vehicle of
infection. In 4 cases the shellfish were oysters, in 2 periwinkles, and in 1 mussels.
Of the 46 cases reported, 31 were removed to hospital (Infirmary, &c.) for isolation and
treatment—the latter being for the patient the more important element. Among the cases
kept at home, the fatality (deaths per cent. of notifications) was 33.3, while among those
removed only 7.4. A reference to Table 19 (last two columns) will demonstrate the value
of the skilled nursing and dieting available in hospitals.
The corrected number of deaths from enteric fever was 6, 4 fewer than in 1904.
Included in that total is the death of an inmate of a lunatic asylum chargeable to
Paddington, who contracted the disease in the asylum. The mortality for the year was
0.04 per 1,000 persons, less than half the decennial mean rate (0.09). The rates for the year
in the Registration Sub-Districts are compared with the respective means below:—
Enteric Fever. Per1,000 persons of all ages. Mean Rates.
| 1905 | 1895-99 | 1900-04 | 1899-1904 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paddington | 0.04 | 0.11 | 0.08 | 0.09 |
| St. Mary | 0.05 | 0.10 | 0.08 | 0.09 |
| St. John | 0.02 | 0.10 | 0.03 | 0.06 |
| North-West Paddington | — | 0.17 | 0.11 | 0.14 |
TABLE 19.
Enteric Fever.
| District. | Cases Notified* | Cases to Hospital. | Hospital Cases Per cent. Notified Cases. | Deaths. | Fatalities | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At Home. | At Hospital. | per cent, cases. | ||||||
| At Home. | At Hospital. | |||||||
| Queen's Park | 4 (1) | 2 (1) | 50 | — | — | — | — | |
| Harrow Road | 8 | 5 | 62 | 2 | 1 | 66.6 | 20.0 | |
| Maida Vale | 17 (1) | 13 (1) | 76 | — | 1 | — | 8.3 | |
| Westbourne† | 6(1) | 5 (1) | 83 | 1 | 1 (1) | 100 | — | |
| Church | 5 (1) | 5 (1) | 100 | — | — | — | — | |
| Lancaster Gate (West) | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| „ „ (East)‡ | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | 100 | — | |
| Hyde Park | 3 | 1 | 33 | 1 | — | 50 | — | |
| Borough Percentages | 1905 | 46 (4) | 31 (4) | 67.3 | 5 | 3 (1) | 33.3 | 7.4 |
| 1904§ | 48 (5) | 38 (5) | 79.1 | 1 | 8 (1) | 10.0 | 24.2 | |
| 1903 | 46 (10) | 33 (6) | 71.7 | 5 | 2 (1) | 55.5 | 7.4 | |
| 1902 | 84 (10) | 54 (6) | 65.0 | 5 | 8 | 19.2 | 6.2 | |
| 1901 | 92 (?) | 58 (?) | 63.0 | 5 | 10 | 14.7 | 17.6 | |
* See foot-note * to Table 15.
†One additional death belonging to this Ward recorded in a lunatic asylum. As the case was
not certified during life, the death has been excluded from the Table.
‡ The case in this Ward was in the person of a non-resident. The case terminated fatally, and the
death has been allocated to Kensington, whence the deceased came.
§ One death (from Church Ward) has been excluded from the Table as the case was not certified
during life.