London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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City of Westminster 1927

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]

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33
The Ministry of Health were informed of the outbreak, and one would wish to acknowledge
with gratitude the assistance which they gave by sending Dr. Mackenzie to help in
the investigations in the institution and outlying districts.
Measles.—The following table shows the number of cases notified
by head teachers of schools, the Metropolitan Asylums Board, hospitals
and private practitioners during the last five years:—
1923. 1924. 1925. 1926. 1927.
131 852 117 1,026 71
The death-rate for England and Wales per 1,000 population was
0.09 and for London 0.01. 15 cases were removed to hospital. There
is now no reason why children suffering from measles, in whose
surroundings there are present any elements which would militate
against their recovery, should not be removed to hospital, the Metropolitan
Asylums Board having agreed to receive cases of measles into
their hospitals in greater numbers than before, even to the extent of
giving these cases preference over scarlet fever cases. This fact, coupled
with the nursing facilities offered by the Council, should go far
towards lowering the mortality from this disease.

Table XXV. Influenza.—The deaths certified from this cause during the last five years are as follows :—

1923.1924.1925.1926.1927.
Males925131024
Females113124937
2056371961

The death-rate in 1927 was 0.44 per 1,000, the rate for London being
0.39. Last year the corresponding rates were lower, being 0.13 for
Westminster and 0.17 for London.
Diarrhcea and Enteritis.—Deaths from this cause were slightly lower
than in 1926. The total deaths were 16—10 males and 6 females—all
being under 1 year old. The infant death-rate from this cause in
Westminster was 11.4, and this was mainly due to the deaths of infants
in an institution in November to which reference has already been made.