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 1926
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southwark, Borough of]
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The number of cases notified and the number of deaths during the last five years were as follows:—
| Notified. | Deaths. | |
|---|---|---|
| 1922 | 749 | 61 |
| 1923 | 770 | 49 |
| 1924 | 791 | 49 |
| 1925 | 905 | 31 |
| 1926 | 945 | 32 |
ENTERIC FEVER.
Ten isolated cases of this disease occurred, and in each case
enquiries were made as to food taken and possible cause of infection, but
no common factor was found nor any definite cause in any case.
The number of cases notified and the number of deaths during the last five years were as follows:—
| Notified. | Deaths. | |
|---|---|---|
| 1922 | 3 | 3 |
| 1923 | 18 | 2 |
| 1924 | 12 | 1 |
| 1925 | 6 | - |
| 1926 | 10 | 3 |
MEASLES.
There was an increase in deaths from this disease over the preceding
year from complications of measles which was very prevalent. The
mortality would probably have been much heavier but for the fact that
measles is a notifiable disease in the Borough, and each case is visited by
a health visitor who advises as to treatment when necessary, and that
many serious cases were transferred to hospitals.
Deaths from Measles during the last 5 years.
1922 145 1925 28
1923 13 1926 51
1924 77
DIARRHOEA.
There was a slight epidemic of diarrhoea, chiefly in young babies
which resulted in 50 deaths. The cases were widespread, and no general
cause was found to account for them. I investigated the feeding in the
case of the infants under one year of age, and found it affected breast fed
infants equally with those on cows' milk or artificial milks, and that the
diet could not be held responsible.