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

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London County Council 1901

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]

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24
The report states—"Under 10 there were only 20 Vaccinated Cases Bud ho death; 4 doubt
ful cases, of whom 1 died; and 192 unvaccinated cases, of whom 65 died—a percentage of
33.85. Under 20 there were 264 vaccinated cases, of whom 3 died—a percentage of 114;
14 doubtful cases, of whom 3 died—a percentage of 21.43; and 309 unvaccinated cases, of whom
95 died—a percentage of 30.74. The diminution after the age of 20 years in the protective
power afforded by infant vaccination is shown in the rise in the death rate [fatality] from
6.67 iu vaccinated cases between 20 and 25 years of age to 18.31 in cases between 35 and 40."
In previous reports I have referred to the increasing proportion of children born in London
who appear in the vaccination returns as "not finally accounted for." The proportion in successive
years has been as follows. The figures for the years subsequent to 1899 are not yet
available.

London vaccination returns.

Year.Children not finally accounted for (including cases postponed) per cent, of total births.Year.Children not finally accounted for (including cases postponed) per cent, of total births.
18728.818867.8
18738.718879.0
18748.8188810.3
18759.3188911.6
18766.5189013.9
18777.1189116.4
18787.1189218.4
18797.8189318.2
18807.0189420.6
18815.7189524.9
18826.6189626.4
18836.5189729.1
18846.8189833.0
18857.0189927.7

The number of children in respect of whom certificates of "conscientious objection were
received numbered 226 in 1897, 1,814 in 1898 and 1,362 in 1899, these numbers representing
less than one per cent, of the total births in the three years.
Measles.
The deaths from measles in the administrative county of London during 1901 (52 weeks)
numbered 1,952, as compared with 1,930 in 1900.
The death rates from this disease per 1,000 living in 1901 and preceding periods have been
as follows—

Measles—Death rates per 1,000 living.

1851-600.5318950.601
1861-700.5818960.821
1871-800.5118970.431
1881-900.6418980.691
18910.43118990.481
18920.79119000.431
18930.38119010.431
18940.761

The death rate in each year since 1840 in relation to the mean death rate of the period
1841-1901 is shown in diagram V.
If the London measles death rate be compared with the death rates of the following large
English towns it will be seen that in the period 1891-1900 the London death rate exceeded the
death rates of all except Manchester, Salford, West Ham and Newcastle, while in 1901, the London
death rate was lower than any except Bristol, Nottingham, Bradford, Leicester and Newcastle.

Measles—Death rates per 1,000 living.

Towns.1891-1900.1901.Towns.1891-1900.1901.
London0.5820.432Nottingham0.410.41
Manchester0.770.54Bradford0.360.06
Liverpool0.540.68Hnll0.500.51
Birmingham0.440.59Salford0.960.52
Leeds0.520.58West Ham0.620.65
Sheffield0.550.56Leicester0.440.08
Bristol0.480.02Newcastle0.590.33

1 See footnote (1), page 9. 2 See footnote (2), page 9.