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 1904
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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52
In considering the value which attaches to reduction of prevalence of infectious disease at a
particular age, the fatality (case mortality) at the several ages is important.
The following tables show the fatality of diphtheria and scarlet-fever at ages under ten years, in London during the period 1895.1904:.
| Ages in years. | 1895-1904. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cases. | Diphtheria. | Scarlet fever. | ||||
| Deaths. | Deaths per 100 cases. | Cases. | Deaths. | Deaths per 100 cases. | ||
| 0— | 2,517 | 1,064 | 42.3 | 2,526 | 336 | 13.3 |
| 1— | 7,407 | 2,729 | 36.8 | 1,825 | 801 | 11.7 |
| 2— | 9,818 | 2,700 | 27.5 | 12,254 | 1,098 | 9.0 |
| 3— | 11,989 | 2,588 | 21.6 | 16,766 | 1,040 | 6.2 |
| 4— | 12,398 | 2,236 | 18.0 | 18,327 | 669 | 3.7 |
| 5—10 | 36,156 | 4,313 | 11.9 | 70,016 | 1,272 | 1.8 |
In the absence of a requirement that measles and whooping cough shall be notified, it is impossible
to supply information concerning these diseases similar to that obtained from the records
of notification of diphtheria and scarlet fever. There is, however, no question about the extension of
the spread of these diseases by school attendance, but unfortunately only the age incidence of deaths
can be given.
The following table shows the number of deaths from these diseases in London at ages under ten years in the period 1895.1904. The deaths from diphtheria and scarlet fever are also shown.
| Ages in years. | Measles. | Whooping cough. | Diphtheria. | Scarlet fever. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0— | 5,415 | 8,188 | 1,064 | 336 |
| 1— | 10,375 | 6,218 | 2,729 | 801 |
| 2— | 4,267 | 2,367 | 2,700 | 1,098 |
| 3— | 2,400 | 1,251 | 2,588 | 1,040 |
| 4— | 1,333 | 658 | 2,236 | 669 |
| 5—10 | 1,116 | 573 | 4,313 | 1,272 |
M eteorology.
The tables published in the annual summary of the Registrar-General, deduced from observations at Greenwich, under the superintendence of the Astronomer Royal, show that the mean temperature of the air in 1904 was 49.8 deg. Fahrenheit, or 0.3 deg. Fahrenheit above the average of the 50 years 1854.1903. The rainfall during the year amounted to 20.67 inches, or 3.86 inches below the average of the preceding 50 years. The temperature and rainfall in each month of the year 1904 are shown in the following table—
| Month. | Temperature of the air. | Departure from average of 50 years, 1854.1903. | Rain. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Absolute maximum. | Absolute minimum. | Mean for month. | Number of days it fell. | Amount collected. | ||
| deg. F. | deg. F. | deg. F. | deg. F. | Inches. | ||
| January | 54.8 | 23.8 | 38.7 | +0.2 | 16 | 2.51 |
| February | 54.2 | 27.2 | 39.4 | —0.1 | 19 | 2.55 |
| March | 59.1 | 26.4 | 40.5 | —1.2 | 12 | 1.36 |
| April | 66.9 | 33.2 | 49.2 | +2.0 | 13 | 1.01 |
| May | 75.1 | 34.2 | 53.7 | +.0.6 | 14 | 1.92 |
| June | 76.1 | 43.9 | 58.5 | —0.9 | 8 | 0.87 |
| July | 85.2 | 49.2 | 66.2 | +3.8 | 14 | 2.23 |
| August | 91.0 | 43.5 | 62.4 | +0.8 | 8 | 1.24 |
| September | 74.6 | 38.8 | 55.8 | —1.4 | 11 | 1.34 |
| October | 66.5 | 31.9 | 50.6 | +0.6 | 16 | 1.74 |
| November | 59.0 | 23.2 | 42.1 | —1.1 | 11 | 1.65 |
| December | 56.0 | 24.8 | 40.3 | +0.6 | 23 | 2.25 |