Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
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holiday, and one child was found who had been ill for some weeks,
and probably was the source of infection; the nature of her illness,
which was slight, had not been recognised.
Ten cases of scarlet fever were notified among children attending
St. George's Row School, and eventually the particular class in which
they were was discontinued shortly before Christmas. The children
were ascertained to be attending various Sunday schools, and in this
way infection may be introduced into day schools. Sometimes, too,
other members of an infected family, and frequently other children
in the house, attend other day schools to that attended by the patient.
Intimation is always sent to the teachers, and the children excluded,
but, of course, infection may have already been taken to the school.
In the whole year, 177 of the 590 cases were in Victoria Ward,
174 in St. John's.
In 57 instances, 2 cases occurred during the year in the same house; in 10 instances, 3 cases; in 5 instances, 4 cases; and in one, 5 cases.
Scarlet Fever. | 1901. | 1902. | 1903. | 1904. | 1905. | 1906. | 1907. | 1908. | 1909. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Deaths per 100 Cases— | |||||||||
The City | 1.8 | 3.3 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 4.0 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 1.27 | 3.00 |
The County | 3.2 | 3.0 | 2.8 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 2.6 | 2.49 | 2.48 | 2.22 |
Diphtheria.—More cases of this disease were notified in Westminster
than in any year since 1902, although in London, as a whole, there was
a decrease. The increase in Westminster is not so serious as it at first
sight appears. The explanation of this is given below.
From the subjoined table it will be seen that the cases of diphtheria
in Westminster were fairly spread over the twelve months. Table XV
shows that Victoria, St. Margaret, and St. John Wards suffered most,
there being more persons at a susceptible age in these wards.
January. | February. | March. | April. | May. | June. | July. | August. | September. | October. | November. | December. | Total. | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1901 | 13 | 10 | 16 | 22 | 19 | 19 | 34 | 19 | 27 | 36 | 21 | 17 | 253 |
1902 | 27 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 25 | 20 | 39 | 25 | 9 | 27 | 32 | 28 | 285 |
1903 | 17 | 13 | 23 | 8 | 18 | 14 | 21 | 9 | 13 | 17 | 13 | 20 | 186 |
1904 | 6 | 17 | 10 | 12 | 9 | 18 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 27 | 9 | 6 | 145 |
1905 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 10 | 8 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 118 |
1906 | 20 | 23 | 11 | 8 | 13 | 20 | 21 | 14 | 13 | 28 | 22 | 13 | 206 |
1907 | 20 | 21 | 8 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 18 | 1 | 7 | 18 | 7 | 13 | 145 |
1908 | 19 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 23 | 17 | 21 | 187 |
1909 | 20 | 18 | 27 | 9 | 11 | 20 | 13 | 11 | 32 | 23 | 7 | 34 | 225 |