Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southwark, Borough of]
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54
SMALL POX.
No case of this disease was notified during the year.
No death from Small-Pox has occurred in the borough in the last
ten years.
SCARLET FEVER.
The largely increased prevalence of Scarlet Fever which reached its
height in the year 1914, marking the top of the cycle for that disease,
has ceased in the year under consideration. It will be seen on reference
to the table below that the sudden decline in the incidence of the disease
was very remarkable during the year, 1915. In previous cycles the rise
and fall in the numbers notified were marked by regular steps, but in this
year the fall has been very sudden, almost from the top of the cycle to
the bottom. In 1914 the top was reached, in 1915 it is nearly at the
bottom. In former periods this result was only seen after some three
years. There is nothing in particular to remark as to the character of
the disease in 1915 except that the cases were of a very mild type
throughout the Borough.
The number of cases notified, as compared with London, during the last ten years was:—
| In Southwark. | In London. | In Southwark | In London. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1906 | 1,470 | 20,329 | 1911 | 480 | 10,4S9 |
| 1907 | 1,275 | 25,926 | 1912 | 500 | 11,312 |
| 1908 | 775 | 22,072 | 1913 | 880 | 17,552 |
| 1909 | 590 | 17,251 | 1914 | 1,448 | 25,015 |
| 1910 | 419 | 10,509 | 1915 | 467 | 17,104 |
The Wards most affected were St. Mary, St. John, St. Paul and All
Saints.
Number of deaths from Scarlet Fever during the last ten years:—
| In Southwark. | In London. | In Southwark. | In London. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1906 | 45 | 533 | 1911 | 6 | 172 |
| 1907 | 35 | 644 | 1912 | 6 | 159 |
| 1908 | 24 | 548 | 1913 | 11 | 1S8 |
| 1909 | 14 | 383 | 1914 | 22 | 316 |
| 1910 | 9 | 214 | 1915 | 12 | 332 |
Of the 465 cases notified in the present year, as many as 454 were
removed to hospital, i.e., 97.6 per cent., as against 97.0 per cent. for
last year.