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 1903
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch]
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the same roof, who were attending at the time the cases occurred. In 17 instances
there were histories of "sore throats" in connection with the cases, either in the
patients' families or amongst other people dwelling in the patients' houses. In 15
instances there was pretty clear evidence of infection from previous cases. In 69 of
the cases the sanitary condition of the houses in which the patients resided was satisfactory.
In the remainder of the houses insanitary conditions of major or minor importance
were met with, and in 23 instances the houses in which the patients were
living were found to be in a distinctly unsatisfactory state, more or less serious defects
being discovered in connection with the drains, and the houses being in a dirty condition
generally.
ENTEEIC OR TYPHOID FEVER.
Including one case certified as continued fever, which was removed as being
enteric fever, the cases notified numbered 101, which is below the average for the
preoeding thirteen years. Ten of the cases certified, including that certified as continued
fever, were found, after being under observation at the fever hospitals, not
to be suffering from enteric fever. Cases were most numerous during the fourth quarter of the year.
The numbers of cases certified since 1889 are shown in the subjoined Table:—
| Year. | Number of Oases. | Year. | Number of Cases. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | 202 | 1897 | 107 |
| 1891 | 111 | 1898 | 91 |
| 1892 | 91 | 1899 | 171 |
| 1893 | 111 | 1900 | 122 |
| 1894 | 85 | 1901 | 96 |
| 1895 | 99 | 1902 | 149 |
| 1896 | 114 | 1903 | 101 |
The cases certified were at the rate of 0.8 per 1,000 inhabitants, the attacks being
at the rate of 0.8 in Shoreditch South, 1.0 in Hoxton New Town and Hoxton Old
Town, and 0.6 per 1,000 in Haggerston. In six of the cases the patients were under
the age of five years, and in three of these the cases were not regarded as being enteric
fever. The deaths numbered 13, the death-rate being 0.11 per 1,000, as compared
with 0.20 in 1902, 0.08 in 1901, 0.11 in 1900, 0.2 in 1899, 0.14 in 1898, 0.15 in 1897,
0.14 in 1896 and 0.17 in 1895. The rate was therefore below the average for previous
years. Deducting the cases not regarded as being enteric fever, the attacks proved
fatal in 14.2 percent. of the cases, as compared with 17.2 in 1902, 11.3 in 1901, 12.7
in 1900, 16.1 in 1899, 18.6 in 1898, 17.7 in 1897, 15.7 in 1896, 21 2 in 1895, 14.1 in
1894 and 15.8 in 1893.