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
Shoreditch 1901
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch]
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23
DIARRHŒA.
Diarrhœa was prevalent in Shoreditch during the months of July, August and
September, the deaths being most numerous during the latter half of July and the
first week of August. It caused 8 deaths in June, 43 in July, 49 in August, 32 in
September and 9 in October. The total number of deaths from diarrhoea was 153,
and there were besides 28 deaths attributed to enteritis or gastro-enteritis. Of the
153 deaths due to diarrhœa 127 were of infants under one year, 18 of children aged
between one and 5 years, and the remainder were of persons over 20 years of age.
The diarrhœa death-rate was 1.30 per 1,000 inhabitants as compared with 1.40 in
1900, 1.75 in 1899, 1.79 in 1898, and 1.74 in 1897. The rate was highest in Hoxton
New Town, and lowest in Shoreditch South
The deaths from diarrhœa in the Metropolis numbered 3,927, of which 2,606
occurred during the months of August and September. The death-rate due to
diarrhœa in London was 0.85 as compared with 0.78 in 1900.
In the subjoined table is contained a comparison of the mortalities from diarrhœa in Shoreditch and London of infants under one year per 1,000 births during the years 1895 to 1901 inclusive.
| Year. | 1895 | 1896 | 1897 | 1898 | 1899 | 1900 | 1901 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shoreditch | 30.5 | 28.7 | 38.2 | 38.9 | 39.7 | 35.7 | 31.5 |
| London | 20.7 | 18.9 | 24.2 | 26.1 | 25.0 | 21.8 | — |
From the above it is obvious that conditions exists in Shoreditch which favcr a
high infant mortality from diarrhoea as compared with London as a whole. The chief
of these conditions are probably the fact that Shoreditch is a very thickly populated
district and that it contains a comparatively large proportion people whose livelihood
is very precarious. Such conditions are very apt to lead to want of that due attention
to general cleanliness which is so essential to a healthy existence. Food is often times
prepared and eaten under insanitary conditions and the proper feeding of infants is not
attended to as it ought to be. Inasmuch as the microbes which set up diarrhœa are
in all probability mainly, if not entirely introduced into the stomach and intestines
with food and drink, it is not difficult to understand that want of proper attention to
cleanliness is a very potent factor in favoring the prevalence of diarrhœa in a
community.
MEASLES.
The above disease was the cause of 75 deaths, 46 of males and 29 of females, all
of children under ten years of age, of whom 9 belonged to Shoreditch South, 18 to
Hoxton New Town, 14 to Hoxton Old Town, and 34 to Haggerston.. The death late
due to measles was 0.64 per 1000 inhabitants, as compared with 0.63 in 1900, 0.69 in
1899, 0.83 in 1898, 0.91 in 1897, 1.10 in 1896, 0.84 in 1895, 0.52 in 1894, 1.04 in 1893