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

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Islington 1912

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington, Metropolitan Borough of]

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73
[1912
SMALL POX.
There was no death from Small Pox registered during the year, nor was
any case notified.
MEASLES.
151 deaths were registered from this disease, as contrasted with an average
of 173 during the last 26 years. In the preceding year the number was
12.4, and in 1910, 166. The deaths were equal to an annual death-rate of
0.46 per 1,000 inhabitants, but this is hardly the correct way of stating the
mortality from this disease, as the deaths are confined almost entirely to
juveniles; indeed, last year there were only five deaths over the age of five
years; hence a more correct way would probably be to state the rate in terms
proportional to the number of children living under five years of age. If this
were done, the mortality rate would be found to be 4.49 per 1,000 children
under five years.
This of course is a very serious toll on young lives, which is all the more
to be regretted because of the fact that too frequently want of care, more often
want of knowledge as how to manage the patient, has resulted in the deaths
of children from the many secondary causes which are to be found in Table
XLI. of this report.
The fact only wants to be stated that 116 of the deceased had pneumonia
as a contributory secondary cause to show how comparatively few succumb
to measles alone. This matter has been frequently discussed in the
various reports of the Medical Officer of Health, who cannot help feeling
that if young mothers were taught how to nurse their children in health and
sickness, much of this loss of life would never have occurred.

Table XXXIX.

Showing theDeathsandDeath-ratesfromMeaslesin theSub-Districtsfor each

Quarter and the Year.

Sub-Districts.1st Quarter.2nd Quarter.3rd Quarter.4th Quarter.Year.
Deaths.Death-rates.Deaths.Death-ratesDeaths.Death-rates.Deaths.Death-rates.Deaths.Death-rates.
Tufnell40.4750.5920.2410.12120.35
Upper Holloway50.5340.43........90.24
Tollington50.6620.2710.13....80.26
Lower Holloway80.8260.6140.41161.64340.87
Highbury20.1320.13....90.58130.21
Barnsbury....90.68161.21201.51450.85
Islington, South East....10.0660.34231.29300.42
The Borough240.29290.36290.36690.841510.46