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

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Lambeth 1906

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lambeth]

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57
children. Of the 71 deaths registered in Lambeth Borough
during 1906 from this disease, 69 (i.e., 97.2 per cent.) occurred
in children under 5 years of age, and 33 of the deaths (i.e., 46.5 per
cent.) occurred amongst infants under 1 year of age. It is,
therefore, a disease of childhood, and its prevention is being
systematically attempted, chiefly in the way of disinfection of
Whooping Cough-infected houses, exclusion from school of
children (both infected and from infected houses), and the
educating of parents up to the dangerous nature of the disease
and the importance of careful nursing of the patients when
suffering from this complaint. Unfortunately, Whooping Cough,
like Measles, is, at present, regarded as a harmless complaint
of childhood, and the ignorance displayed, and the apathy shown,
in regard to these diseases are well known to all who visit amongst
the poorer classes.
During 1906, in the Borough of Lambeth, disinfection has been
carried out in connection with 455 Whooping Cough-infected
houses, as compared with 440, 380, 325, 110, 72 and 126
during 1905, 1904, 19<>3, 1902, 1901, and 1900 respectively;
and leaflets (dealing with the dangers and treatment of this
disease) left at all known Whooping Cough-infected houses.*
No School nor Class was closed during 1906 on account of
Whooping Cough, but disinfection was carried out at St.
Michael's School, Halstead Street, on account of several cases of
Whooping Cough amongst the scholars.
Details of the incidences of Measles and Whooping Cough
in the different Registration Sub-Districts ot Lambeth Borough
during 1906 are as follow:—
* Whooping Cough is not a compulsorily-notifiable disease, but 485 cases
were voluntarily notified during 1906 by L.C.C, School Teachers (vide
Appendix, p. 30—37).