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

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Holborn 1913

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

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16
Since the Measles Order of the Local Government Board of the 30th May,
1911, in addition to Poor Law cases, persons that cannot be satisfactorily isolated
and nursed at home can be removed to hospitals of the Metropolitan Asylums
Board, on the recommendation of the Medical Officer of Health, provided accommodation
is available. 14 cases were so removed during the year.
WHOOPING COUGH
Whooping cough was returned as the cause of 6 deaths during the year, in
comparison with 7 in the preceding year and 3 in 1910. 3 of the deaths
were in St. Giles and Bloomsbury and 3 in the Holborn District. All were
children under 5 years of age, 5 being under 2 years. The death-rate was 0.13
per 1,000 in comparison with the decennial average of 0.23.
On the 9th August, 1912, the Local Government Board issued an Order
providing for the admission of any person who is not a pauper to a hospital of
the Metropolitan Asylums Board on the recommendation of the Medical Officer
of Health, provided more accommodation is available than is required for pauper
patients. Three cases were so removed during the year.
DIARRHÅ’A AND ENTERITIS
The number of deaths from diarrhoea and enteritis was only 15. 2 belonged
to St Giles and Bloomsbury and 13 to the Holborn District. 12 were children
under 2 years of age, 7 being under 1 year of age.
The Registrar-General in 1911 introduced a change in the method of classification
of diarrhœal deaths. He takes the deaths from diarrhoea and enteritis
under two years of age, instead of deaths at all ages from cholera, dysentery and
diarrhoea. In estimating rates, he takes the number of deaths per 1,000 births
instead of per 1,000 of the population. In the Borough this rate was only 15 01
per 1,000 births, in comparison with 27.50 for London with 3,098 deaths under
two years of age. Only 6 of our deaths and 1,500 London deaths occurred during
the summer quarter, in comparison with 33 and 4,310 respectively during the
exceptionally hot one of 1911.
PHTHISIS.
For details see pages 21 to 23.
INFLUENZA.
During the year there were 8 deaths registered as due to influenza, in comparison
with 9 in 1912.