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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79
[1912
WHOOPING COUGH.
The return of deaths from Whooping Cough was the best hitherto
recorded in the Borough. The number was 54, which is a decrease of 94 on
the average which obtained from 1885-1911. Only once before did the deaths
from this disease approach this figure; namely in 1908 when they numbered 55.
The general tendency of the disease is to decline, and as pointed out last
year in a tabulated statement showing the mortality in quinquennial periods,
the deaths fell from an average of 195 per annum in the five years, 1886-1890
to 92 in the five years, 1906-1910. This decrease is all the more satisfactory
when it is recollected that scarcely any human being escapes the disease in
the early days of his life.
Why this reduction in the deaths has taken place it is impossible to say,
but probably it is that the children live under better conditions and in well
ventilated rooms and amidst cleaner surroundings, together with the absence of
dust and overcrowding, which are some of the factors necessary for the prevention
of this disease; therefore it may reasonably be assumed that it is owing to
the exertions of sanitary authorities throughout the country that this state of
affairs has been brought about.
To this cause may be added also the better class of school with their
large and well-ventilated rooms, which are now provided by the Education
Authorities.

TableXLVI.

Showing theDeathsandDeath-ratesfromWhooping Coughin the Sub-Districts

for each Quarter and the Year.

Sub-Districts.1st Quarter.2nd Quarter.3rd Quarter.4th Quarter.Year.
Deaths.Death-rates.Deaths.Death-rates.Deaths.Death-rates.Deaths.Death-rates.Deaths.Death-rates.
Tufnell30.36............30.09
Upper Holloway101.0740.4310.11....150.40
Tollington30.4030.3910.13....70.23
Lower Holloway50.5110.1010.10....70.18
Highbury10.0620.13........30.05
Barnsbury30.2330.2330.2320.15110.21
Islington, South East....10.0640.2230.1780.11
The Borough250.31140.17100.1250.06540.16