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
Marylebone 1915
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Marylebone, Metropolitan Borough]
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16
In addition to sanitary work, educational work exerts a considerable influence
in reducing the number of cases. Probably in no year has more educational work
been done than in 1915. In this the efforts of the Council's workers have been
ably seconded by those of the St. Marylebone Health Society, and, as already
noted, part of the credit for any improvement must be given to this body.
Zymotic (communicable) Diseases ; Phthisis, &c.; and Respiratory
Diseases.
The following table shows the number of deaths in each of these groups and the death rate per 1,000 of the estimated population from each :—
| Total deaths | Rate per 1,000 of the estimated population. | |
|---|---|---|
| I. Zymotic (communicable) Diseases | 111 | 1.16 |
| 2. Phthisis and other Tuberculous Diseases... | 170 | 1.78 |
| 3. Respiratory Diseases | 420 | 4.41 |
All the figures, except those for phthisis are, it may be noted, higher than those
for 1914. The increase in the case of respiratory diseases was from 307 to 420.
Zymotic (communicable) Diseases.
The figure for the diseases in this group (small-pox, measles, scarlet fever,
whooping cough, diphtheria, membranous croup, typhus, enteric and continued
fevers, diarrhoea and enteritis), 1T6 is considerably higher than that for 1914. The
total number of deaths was 111, to which diphtheria contributed 7 and whooping
cough 14. As is shown in the table at page 63, measles caused 53 deaths, and is
responsible for the great increase of the figure over that for 1914. The number of
deaths in that year from measles was 3, and from the zymotic diseases 72.
Phthisis and other Tuberculous Deaths.
The total deaths caused by phthisis (consumption) and other conditions due to
the germ of tuberculosis was 170. The great bulk of these, viz., 135, was due to
phthisis, which indeed caused as much as 7'9 per cent. of the total number of deaths
(1697) registered.
The age periods at which the deaths from phthisis occurred were 2-5 years, 1
('7 per cent.) ; 5-15, 3 (2.2 per cent.); 15-25, 12 (8.8 per cent.); 25-45, 50 (37 per
cent.) ; 45-65, 58 (47 per cent.) ; 65 and over, 11 (8.1 per cent.). Below the age of
2 years no deaths were certified as having occurred irom this disease.