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 1891
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth District, The Board of Works (Clapham, Putney, Streatham, Tooting & Wandsworth)]
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| 1882 | 1883 | 1884 | 1885 | 1886 | 1887 | 1888 | 1889 | 1890 | 1891 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small-pox | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. |
| Measles | 5 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 11 | 21 | .. | 5 | 12 | 36 |
| Scarlet Fever | 9 | 2 | 8 | .. | .. | 4 | 5 | 1 | .. | 1 |
| Diphtheria | 4 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 30 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| Enteric Fever | 9 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| Typhus Fever | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | 1 | .. | .. | .. | .. |
| Whooping Cough | 1 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 26 | 6 | 22 | 9 | 34 | 19 |
| Epidemic Diarrhoea | 3 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 20 | 16 | 13 | 8 | 15 | 10 |
| Other Zymotic Diseases | 10 | 15 | 11 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 5 | |
| Influenza | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | 21 |
| Total deaths from Zymotic Diseases | 41 | 65 | 54 | 34 | 67 | 64 | 74 | 32 | 79 | 95 |
| Zymotic Death-rate. | 1.6 | 2.3 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 1.7 |
| Death-rate from all Diseases | 12.6 | 14.9 | 15.3 | 13.9 | 15.0 | 11.6 | 11.4 | 10.2 | 11.5 | 11.6 |
The total number of deaths from Zymotic Diseases
exceeded the decennial average, 76 of the deaths (over
two-thirds) from these diseases were due to Measles,
Influenza, and Whooping Cough. There were 21
deaths ascribed primarily to Influenza, they nearly all
happened in May and June. The Epidemic declined in
July, only two deaths occurring in that month.
Measles was very prevalent in the months of March,
April, and May; no less than 36 deaths resulted from
this disease. Doubtless the time of year, and the atmospheric
conditions conducive to Influenza, Pneumonia
and other Respiratory Diseases had much to do with the
fatal character of the Epidemic. No effectual control
can be exercised over an Epidemic of Measles, without
the adoption of notification. Vide Report on notification
of Measles in the combined Report by the Medical
Officers of Health.