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 1904
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
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44
(3) Non-notifiable Diseases.
Measles.—Twenty-three deaths (47 in 1903) were attributed to
this cause in 1904 in the City, but probably a proportion of the 57
deaths from broncho-pneumonia, at the same age periods, originated in
measles.
During the year only 181 cases came to my knowledge, 150 having been notified by school teachers, 31 by medical men and others. The deaths calculated on the total population were:—
| 1901. | 1902. | 1903. | 1904. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.43 | ||||
As all the deaths in Westminster, and the bulk of those in London, occur in children under five years of age, it affords a better comparison to calculate the deaths on the number of children estimated to be living under five years of age:—
| 1901. | 1902. | 1903. | 1904. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | ||||
The deaths were distributed as follows:—
| Measles, 1904. | Victoria Ward. | Knightsbridge Ward. | St. John Ward. | Regent Ward. | St. Anne's Ward. | Strand Ward. | Covent Garden Ward. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| — | — | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | |
| 1 | — | — | — | — | |||
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 4 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 3 |
Disinfection was carried out after 23 cases of measles, but there
does not appear to be the same risk of infection being retained in
rooms or on articles of clothing as in scarlet fever. If proper care
were taken by parents, especially after the rash has disappeared, the
mortality from measles might be reduced almost to nothing. It is to
be hoped that the efforts of the Lady Inspectors and other health
visitors will eventually be successful in securing this result.