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
City of Westminster 1902
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
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Table XI.—
| County of London. | City of Westminster. | County of London. | City of Westminster. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small-pox | 0.28 | 0.21 | Other forms of tuberculosis | 0.57 | 0.45 |
| Measles | 0.50 | 0.23 | |||
| Scarlet fever | 0.12 | 0.08 | Respiratory diseases | 3.46 | 3.61 |
| Epidemic influenza | 0.29 | 0.23 | Malignant growths | 1.03 | 1.08 |
| Whooping cough | 0.40 | 0.18 | Alcoholism | 0.14 | 0.17 |
| Diphtheria | 0.25 | 0.16 | Cirrhosis of liver | 0.16 | 0.26 |
| Enteric fever | 0.12 | 0.12 | Bright's disease | 0.37 | 0.53 |
| Diarrhœal diseases | 0.53 | 0.48 | Accidental deaths | 0.59 | 0.44 |
| Erysipelas | 0.03 | 0.02 | Suicidal, &c., deaths | 0.13 | 0.15 |
| Puerperal fever | 0.04 | 0.02 | All other causes | 6.40 | 6.54 |
| Other septic diseases | 0.10 | 0.16 | |||
| Rheumatic fever | 0.06 | 0.03 | |||
| Tuberculosis of lungs | 1.60 | 1.78 | 17.2 | 16.00 |
Tubercular Disease.—Exactly the same number: (413) of deaths
were ascribed to various forms of this complaint in the 53 weeks of 1902
as in 1901, being equal to 2.32 per thousand in 1902 and 2.68 in 1901.
The phthisis (tuberculosis of the lungs) deaths number 329, as compared
with 341 in 1901, the rates being 1.78 and T83 per thousand
respectively.
The deaths from phthisis in London registered during the year under
notice numbered 7,424, and were equal to a rate of l.60 per 1,000,
against 1.85, 1.74, and 1.66 in the three preceding years. Among the
various boroughs the death rates from this disease ranged from 0.85 in
Hampstead, 0.90 in Wandsworth, 1.05 in Paddington, 1.06 in Lewisham,
1.12 in Deptford, and 1.19 in Greenwich, to 1.88 in Southwark, 1.90 in
Stepney, 1.92 in Marylebone, 1.97 in Bethnal Green, 2.28 in Finsbnry,
and 3.01 in Holborn. In the central and east districts the mortality from
this disease was considerably higher than in any other part of the
metropolis. In the west districts the phthisis death-rate was 1.40 per
1,000, in the south 1.52, and in the north 1.56, while in the east it was
T85, and in the central 2.43 per 1,000.
As a result of the enquiries I have made, I am satisfied that a.
proportion of the deaths certified as chronic bronchitis or bronchopneumonia
are of tubercular origin.
The distribution of deaths in wards are shown in Table X.
Voluntary Notification of Phthisis.—The Council, after consideration
of the recommendation in my last Annual Report, have agreed to
institute a system of voluntary notification, which will come in force
during the current year.