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A grouping of the cases according to ages is shown in Table III (Appendix). Of
the cases certified 88 percent. were removed to hospital for treatment.
The cases certified as enteric fever in London during 1903 numbered 2,337, as
compared with 3,405 in 1902, 3,193 in 1901, 4,309 in 1900, and 4,460 in 1899; the
attack rate being 0.50 per 1,000 inhabitants, as compared with 0.74 in 1902, 0.70 in
1901, 0.93 in 1900, and 0.97 in 1899. The deaths due to enteric fever in the
Metropolis numbered 368 and the death-rate was 0.08, as compared with 0.11 in 1902,
0.12 in 1901, and 0.17 in 1900.
The usual enquiries into the circumstances attending the occurrence of cases of
typhoid fever in the Borough were made during the year. With respect to the
association of the disease with the consumption of shell-fish, the following cases were
noted:—
(1). A young man, J.W., aged 19, who sold fish from a stall in Hoxton was
taken ill about the middle of December, 1902, and certified to have
typhoid fever on January 11th following. No definite information was
obtained as to the extent he was in the habit of eating shell-fish,
but it is probable that he did eat both oysters and mussels from time
to time. This patient continued to follow his employment up to a few
days before his oase was certified.
(2). A girl, A. H., aged 15, employed in domestic duties at home, fell ill
towards the end of January or beginning of February. She is stated
to have eaten two oysters and a few mussels purchased at the stall
where case (1) was serving on January 9th. The oysters were said to
have come from Sittingbourne, and the mussels from Holland.