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
Southwark 1917
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southwark, Borough of]
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55
SMALL POX.
No case of this disease was notified during the year 1917.
No death from Small-Pox has occurred in the borough within the
last thirteen years.
SCARLET FEVER.
During the year under consideration 276 cases were notified and
only seven deaths, which is, with the exception of last year when there
were live deaths, one of the lowest on record. The notifications were
the fewest in number since the notification of infectious diseases was
instituted. The cases were pretty evenly distributed throughout the
borough and the deaths were confined to three wards.
The number of cases notified, as compared with London, during the last ten years was: —
| In Southwark | In London. | In Southwark | In London. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 1911 | 480 | 10,489 | 1916 | 301 | 8,766 |
| 1912 | 500 | 11,312 | 1917 | 276 | 6,110 |
The Wards most affected were St. John, All Saints, St. Mary, St.
Michael and St. George's Wards.
Number of deaths from Scarlet Fever during the last ten years:—
| In Southwark. | In London. | In Southwark. | In London. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1908 | 24 | 548 | 1913 | 11 | 1S8 |
| 1909 | 14 | 383 | 1914 | 22 | 316 |
| 1910 | 9 | 214 | 1915 | 12 | 332 |
| 1911 | 6 | 172 | 1916 | 5 | 146 |
| 1912 | 6 | 159 | 1917 | 7 | 85 |
Of the 276 cases notified in the present year, as many as 263 were
removed to hospital, i.e., 95.3 per cent., as against 973 per cent. for
last year.
The deaths in the 263 cases sent to hospital numbered 7, a mortality
of 2'6 per cent.
The annual rate of mortality was 0.04.