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 1904
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch]
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24
ENTERIC OR TYPHOID FEVER.
The majority of the cases were certified during the latter half of the year but
the total number for the whole year only amounted to 48, including four cases which were
subsequently found at the hospitals to which they were removed to be suffering from
pneumonia. A table showing the numbers of cases yearly certified since 1889 is contained
in last year's Report. The number for 1904 is the smallest yet recorded. The
cases certified were at the rate of 0.4 per 1,000 population, which is about half of what it
was for ]903. All the patients were over five years of age. The deaths numbered 9,
and the death-rate was 0.07 per 1,000 inhabitants, as compared with 0.11 in 1903, 0.20
in 1902, 0.08 in 1901, 0.11 in 1900, 0.20 in 1899, 0.14 in 1898, 0.15 in 1897, 0.14 in
1896 and 0.17 in 1895. The rate is the lowest recorded in Shoreditch for typhoid
fever. Deducting the cases not regarded as being enteric fever the attacks proved
fatal in 20.4 per cent. of the cases, a mortality which is above the average as a comparison
with the mortalities for previous years will show. The figures for previous years
are given in the Report for 1903.
The distribution of the cases certified and deaths amongst males and females in the four registration sub-districts during 1904 is as shown in the subjoined Table:—
| Sub-District. | TYPHOID FEVER. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notifications. | Fatal Cases. | |||||
| Male. | Female. | Total. | Male. | Female. | Total. | |
| Shoreditch South | 4 | 5 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Hoxton New Town | 5 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Hoxton Old Town | 4 | 2 | 6 | — | 1 | 1 |
| Haggerston | 15 | 9 | 24 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Total for the whole Borough | 28 | 20 | 48 | 5 | 4 | 9 |
A grouping of the cases according to ages is shown in Table III. (appendix). Of
the caises certified 43, or close upon 90 per cent., were removed to hospital for treatment.
The cases certified as enteric fever in London during 1904 numbered 1902 as compared
with 2,337 in 1903, 2,405 in 1902, 3,193 in 1901, 4,309 in 1900 and 4,460 in 1899.
The attack-rate was 0.41 per 1,000 population as compared with 0.50 in 1903, 0.74 in
1902, 0.70 in 1901, 0.93 in 1900 and 0.97 in 1899. The deaths for the whole of
London numbered 286, and the death-rate was 0.06 per 1,000 as compared with 0.08
in 1903, 0.11 in 1902, 0.12 in 1901 and 0.17 in 1900. These figures show that both
the amount of and the mortalicv from enteric fever have greatly declined during recent
years in London.