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

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Leyton 1895

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Leyton]

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15
The number of imported cases was seven.
In many of the houses infected, defective drains were found, and
in some it was found that the same cistern was used for both
drinking and flushing purposes.
MEASLES.
Towards the end of April we experienced a very severe epidemic,
which was confined chiefly to the Leyton Ward, amongst children
attending the National Schools and the Church Road Board Schools.
It reached the height of its severity in May, when 17 of the 50 deaths
occurred.
Of the total number of deaths 45 were under five years of age.
At one time I considered the advisability of recommending the
closing of the schools, but I came to the conclusion that in our
thickly-populated District such a measure would tend to spread rather
than to abate the disease.
ERYSISELAS.
There has been a slight increase in the number of cases notified.
All the three deaths were over five years of age.
In my opinion, compulsory notification of this disease, so far as
this District is concerned, seems of very little value.
WHOOPING COUGH.
There have been 26 deaths, or 5 more than last year, all being of
children under five years of age.
Although the deaths from this complaint are included in the
Zymotic death-rate, it is, like Measles and Diarrhoea, not notifiable,
and so it is difficult to estimate its prevalence except by the mortality,
which was at no time excessive.
I noticed, however, that there seemed to be a considerable number
of cases of a mild character during the month of April.
DIARRHCEA.
Twice as many deaths as last year have occurred, but not so many
as in 1893. Of the 72 deaths, 68 were under five years of age, and
July and August were responsible for 54 deaths.
INFLUENZA.
This has been epidemic in our District for the sixth time. A few
scattered cases occurred at the very beginning of the year, but it was
not until the middle of February that the disease assumed serious
proportions. It spread rapidly throughout the District, attacking
especially the old and infirm, and those who had experienced several
previous attacks.