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
Islington 1895
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington, Parish of St. Mary ]
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13
Diphtheria was responsible for 31 deaths, compared with 17 in the
preceding quarter, and with 45 in the third quarter of 1894, and with 52
in the similar quarter of 1893. The 31 deaths were equal to an annual
death-rate of 0.36 per 1,000 inhabitants. It is the lowest return, with the
exception of the first quarter of 1895, known for the preceding ten
quarters.
It is a matter of satisfaction to note that since the return for the quarter ending March, 1894, the disease has shown a distinct tendency to decline, as the following statement will show.
| 1893, 1st quarter 32 deaths | = 0.39 death-rate per 1,000 per annum. |
| ,, 2nd ,, 42 " | = 0.51 " "" |
| " 3rd " 52 " | = 0.63 ,, „ ,, |
| " 4th " 63 " | = 0.76 ,, ,, ,, |
| 1894, 1st „ 64 „ | = 0.76 |
| " 2nd 60 " | = 0.72 ,, ,, ,, |
| " 3rd " 45 " | = 0.54 " " " |
| " 4th " 39 " | — 0.46 ,, ,, ,, |
| 1895, 1st „ 25 „ | — 0.29 ,, ,, ,, |
| " 2nd ,, 17 " | = 0.20 ,, ,, ,, |
| " 3rd " 31 " | = 0.36 ,, " ,, |
It is now unquestioned that school influence is a great factor,
although in my opinion not nearly the only factor, in the production of this
disease. This being so it is certain that precautions which are taken to
prevent suspected children from mixing with others who are perfectly
healthy must have a favourable influence in holding the disease in check,
and I am therefore convinced that the much greater care exercised by
the school teachers of this district in excluding children with sore throats
from the schools is having its influence. Whatever they may do in other
Metropolitan Districts I have to record that the teachers of the Islington
Schools are fully alive to their responsibilities, and are most loyally
endeavouring to assist the Public Health Authority in its work. I have
the greatest pleasure in bearing testimony to their zealous endeavours to
check not only this disease, but all the notifiable diseases, and I trust that
they may succeed in obtaining results even still better than those now
indicated. It is a noteworthy fact that the teachers frequently communicate
with me as regards sickness and insanitary conditions, which have come
to their knowledge, and for this I am very thankful, and with, I have not
the least hesitation in saying, very good results. I trust that the Sanitary