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

Barking 1919

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Barking]

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Table: From 1,000 enquiries the age distribution of attack was found to be as follows :—

From 1,000 enquiries the age distribution of attack was found to be as follows :—

Age.No. of Enquiries.Attacked.Per 100.
14 years and under401230.0
15- 20 years2139243.1
21-25 „853338.8
26-30 „1123430.3
31-35 „1073835.5
36 - 40 „1504026.6
41 - 45 „1303224.6
46 - 50 „1302116.1
51 - 55 „791313.4
56 -60 „711014.0
61 - 65 „3837.8
66 - 70 „23314.2
71 and over900.0
Totals1,18733127.8

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It was found that 30 per cent. of the school teachers were
absent from October 5th to October 20th. This percentage, though
varying in different factories and services, is a fair all-round estimate.
With respect to school children the position is more interesting.
During the week ending September 28th batches of 20 school
children were taken attending school, and the following numbers
were found to have temperatures between 99 and 100 degrees F. :
6, 5, 7 4, 3. That is, an average of 4.6 or 23 per cent, of the
children attending school had abnormal temperatures during that
week. The normal number found during an ordinary year varies
from 3 per cent. to 4 per cent. Observations on temperature
during the following week failed, owing to the fall in the school
attendance, to get any further reliable information. It is obvious
that the abnormal number must have been dependant on mild
forms of infection, as the majority of these developed no further
symptoms. Hence, if to the 30 per cent. who were seriously ill,