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

Wandsworth 1881

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth District, The Board of Works (Clapham, Putney, Streatham, Tooting & Wandsworth)]

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78
Zymotic Diseases—their prevalence and mortality.

Table: The following Table contrasts all the deaths which resulted from the seven principal epidemic diseases during the past and eight preceding years:—

The following Table contrasts all the deaths which resulted from the seven principal epidemic diseases during the past and eight preceding years:—

DISEASE.187318741875187618771878187918801881
Seven principal Epidemics.Small Pox...2......41.........
Measles3922211213
Scarlatina13441253413
Diphtheria...13733271
Whooping Cough83576112189
Typhus, &c.722551352
Diarrhœa and Choleraic Disease10696413369
Totals292625312542366137

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This table shows that there were 37 deaths from the
seven principal diseases of the zymotic class, as against 61
in the previous year, and allowing for the difference in
the population this number is below the average of the
eight preceding years.
Examined more in detail, it will be observed that
no death from Small-pox was registered in this subdistrict,
but 11 cases were sent into hospital from various
parts of the parish, and I believe, but for the prompt
removal of all these cases to hospital, and the other
measures taken to arrest the spread of the disease, viz.:
the fumigation, disinfection, and cleansing of infected
houses and premises, clothing and bedding, and where
necessary burning the latter, with re-vaccination in
case of need of the other occupants of infected houses,
there would have been a much more extensive epidemic