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
Edmonton 1904
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Edmonton]
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The following table shows the number of cases isolated, their percentage and the fatality, that is, the percentage of cases dying to those notified:-
| Disease. | Number Isolated in Hospital. | Percentage of Isolations. | Fatality. per cent. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Pox | 4 | 100 | Nil. |
| Scarlet Fever | 132 | 72.9 | 1.6 |
| Enteric Fever | 22 | 57.9 | 21. |
| Diphtheria | 23 | 57.9 | 21.7 |
| Totals | 181 | 67.2 | 7.8 |
As I stated in my Annual Report last year, the very favourable
figures shown in the statistic of the infectious diseases for 1903
were quite exceptional and could hardly be expected to continue.
The district to a certain extent has suffered from an increased
incidence of these diseases during 1904, accompanied also by an
increased mortality. An important cause for this circumstance is,
as I have already said, to be found in the unfavourable meteorological
conditions that prevailed during 1904, and more especially in
the greatly diminished rainfall that was such a prominent feature of
the year. The poverty into which large numbers of our inhabitants
have been thrown from lack of employment, has doubtless also had
a marked local influence on the spread of these diseases.
Amongst the notifiable diseases diphtheria has advanced from 19
cases in 1903 to 46 cases in 1904. This figure, however, which is
considerably below the average for the last 10 years, cannot in itself
be considered large in proportion to the population.
There was a less marked increase in the numbers of each of the
other notifiable diseases, with the exception of puerperal fever, of
which one case only was notified, as against 3 in the previous year.