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

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Shoreditch 1904

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch]

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27
The cases and deaths amongst males and females in the four registration sub-districts
were distributed as set out below:—

The cases and deaths amongst males and females in the four registration sub-districts were distributed as set out below:—

Sub-District.ERYSIPELAS.
Cases Certified.Fatal Cases.
Male.Female.Total.Male.Female.Total.
Shoreditch South191332112
Hoxton New Town23275022
Hoxton Old Town142842
Haggerston29305911
Total for the whole Borough8598183235

The death-rate was 0.04 per 1,000 inhabitants as compared with 0.06 in 1903, 0.06
in 1902, 0.05 in 1901, 0.08 in 1900, and 0.13 in 1899. The deaths were at the rate
of 2.6 per cent, of the cases certified as compared with 4.7 in 1903, 4.6 in ,1902, 4.2 in
1901, 5.8 in 1900 and 8 in 1899.
Blood poisoning (pyaemia and septicaemia) was given as the cause of 8 deaths, 5
of males and 3 of females. Infective endocarditis (a form of heart disease) resulted
in 3 deaths. Other septic diseases allied to the foregoing caused 2 deaths. Included
amongst the deaths from blood poisoning or pyaemia was a death which was, subsequent
to registration, ascertained to have been due to
GLANDERS.
According to Professor J. McFadyean, of the Royal Veterinary College, the Reports
of the Registrar General show that on an average four persons die annually from
glanders. The symptoms and lesions of the disease are by no means pathognomonic
and it may readily be confounded with morbid conditions usually classed as pyaemia.
It is, therefore, quite possible that the official returns considerably understate the mortality
from glanders.*
The facts of the case referred to are briefly as follows: Daniel C-, aged 25 years,
employed as a farrier at stables, near Broad Street Station, where some 400 horses are
kept, fell ill about July 28th and was admitted to the Shoreditch Infirmary on August
9th. His symptoms at first resembled those met with in certain forms of influenza ;
then when his left ankle and right wrist became swollen and painful acute rheumatism
suggested itself. As the case proceeded it presented characters suggestive of typhoid
fever, then acute septicaemia, and when the eruption appeared the possibility of it being
an anomalous case of smallpox presented itself. About a week after admission to the
*Harben Lectures for 1904. Glanders Lecture HI.