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
London County Council 1900
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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38
Diarrhœa.
The deaths in the Administrative County of London attributed to diarrhoea and
dysentery in the year 1900 numbered 3,537, compared with 4,196 in the year 1899.
The death rates in 1900 and preceding periods are shown in the following table—
| Period. | Death-rate per 1,000 living. | Period. | Death-rate per 1,000 living. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851-60 | 1.03 | 1894 | 0.411 |
| 1861-70 | 1.04 | 1895 | 0.821 |
| 1871-80 | 0.95 | 1896 | 0711 |
| 1881-90 | 0.75 | 1897 | 0921 |
| 1891 | 0.571 | 1898 | 0.981 |
| 1892 | 0601 | 1899 | 0.93l |
| 1893 | 0.801 | 1900 | 0.78 |
The diarrhoea death-rate in each year since 1840 in relation to the mean death-rate of the
period 1841-1900 is shown in diagram XIX. The mean temperature of the summer quarter of
each year in relation to the mean of the period 1841-1900 is also shown. The intimate relation
between the temperature of the summer quarter and the prevalence of diarrhoea is most marked.
The age distribution of the deaths2 from this disease in the Registration County of London in the year 1900 was as follows—
| Under 1 year. | 1-5. | 5-20. | 20-40. | 40-60. | 60-80. | 80 and upwards. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,857 | 475 | 6 | 22 | 38 | 128 | 38 |
It will thus be seen that over 80 per cent, of the total deaths occurred among children
under one year of age and over 93 per cent, among children under five years of age.
It will be seen from the following table that the London diarrhoea death rate was lower
than that of any of the undermentioned towns except Bristol and Bradford in the year 1900,
and in the period 1890-99 was lower than that of any except Bristol—
| Towns. | 1890-99. | 1900. | Towns. | 1890-99. | 1900. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | 0.742 | 0 .792 | Bristol | 0.63 | 0.53 |
| Manchester | 1.29 | 1.39 | Nottingham | 1.11 | 1.08 |
| Liverpool | 1.32 | 1.44 | Bradford | 0.91 | 0.29 |
| Birmingham | 1.23 | 1.21 | Hull | 1.45 | 1.68 |
| Leeds | 1.09 | 1.05 | Salford | 1.54 | 1.41 |
| Sheffield | 1.35 | 1.52 | West Ham | 0.89 | 1.30 |
During the year 1900 the eastern group of districts had the highest death-rate from
the disease and the northern the lowest. Of the several sanitary districts the death-rate was
highest in St. George, Southwark (1.45) and lowest in the City (015). During the first quarter
of the year the western group of districts had the highest death-rate (0.15) and the northern,
eastern and southern groups the lowest (0.11); during the second quarter of the year the
central group of districts had the highest death-rate (0'19) and the northern group the lowest
(0.10); during the third quarter of the year, when the mortality from this disease usually
attains its maximum, the' eastern group of districts had the highest death-rate (3.39) and the
central group the lowest (2'04); during the fourth quarter of the year the eastern group of
districts again had the highest death-rate (0'45) and the northern group the lowest (0.28).
The death-rate of each sanitary district in the year 1900 and the preceding ten years
1890-9 will be seen from the following table—
1 See footnote (1), page 5 2 See footnote (2), page 5.