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66
These rates were considerably below those for 1901, owing to the
more favourable climatic condition.
Dysentery.—Six deaths are again recorded under this heading, all
being inmates of lunatic asylums. Ulcerative colitis, to which cause
these deaths were attributed, is believed to be identical with dysentery,
and has been prevalent in certain asylums in which overcrowding exists.
Measles.—This complaint is popularly regarded as a simple and
harmless one, yet during 1902 no less than 2,360 deaths occurred from
it in London, four times as many as from scarlet fever, twice as many as
from diphtheria; and probably this does not represent the total, as deaths
due to measles are not infrequently assigned to other causes resulting
therefrom. The deaths in London were equal to 0.50 per thousand
persons, as compared with 0.43 in 1901. It was most fatal in
Shoreditch, Southwark, Bermondsey, Tulham, Chelsea, and FinsburvIn
Westminster forty-three deaths occurred, giving a rate of 0.23 per
thousand, as compared with 0.32 in 1901.
With one exception all the deaths in Westminster were in children
under five years of age. Reckoned on this basis the death-rate was
equal to 4.6 for London, as against 3.7 in 1901, 3.3 for the City as
against 4.6 in 1901.
In watching the course of measles and other infectious diseases, it is
found that they have a tendency to be much more prevalent in certain
years than in others. This is due to persons at certain ages being more
susceptible to the disease, so that when available material has been used
up no more cases appear until that has been replenished, when on
infection being again brought into a district a new outbreak occurs. It
does not therefore attack the whole of a town or district at once, but
gradually passes through it like a wave. Thus an infectious disease like
measles may begin in Soho and take a year to pass on from one ward
to another until it has gone all over the City.
Information has reached me during tire year from schools of 294
cases. 144 children, in addition, were excluded from school on account
of there being cases in their homes. The figures are shown on p. 67.
The Infantsper cent. Department of St. Paulper cent.s School, Wilton Place, was
closed on my certificate for a week in the end of December, the shortness
of the period being accounted for by the fact that the usual Christmas
holidays began at the conclusion of that time.
Whooping-cough caused 1,876 deaths in London (0per cent.40 per 1,000),
34 in Westminster (0.18 per 1,000). The rates in 1901 were
0 35 for London, 0.26 for the City. All the Westminster deaths were
in children under five years of age. Compared with the population
living under that age, the rates per thousand were: London 3.65 (3.23 in
1901), Westminster 2.65 (3.67 in 1901).