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 1905
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch]
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The cases certified were at the rate of 0,3 per 1,000 population, as compared with
0.4 for 1904 and 0.8 for 1903. With two exceptions, one of which was not a case
of enteric fever, the cases certified were all amongst persons over five years of age.
The deaths certified as due to the disease numbered 2, including the one not regarded
as having been due to enteric fever. The death-rate was 0.01 per 1,000 inhabitants,
as compared with 0.07 in 1904, 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. This is
the lowest deathrrate from enteric fever so far recorded in Shoreditch.
The mortality was at the rate of nearly 6 per cent. of the cases certified, but
deducting those not regarded as being enteric fever, the case mortality was only 3.3
per cent., which is a very low mortality for this disease. The case mortalities for
previous years are as follows:—20.4 per cent. in 1904, 14.2 in 1903, 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. A glance at these figures shows how much
the mortality from enteric fever was below the average in Shoreditch during 1905. In
connection with this, however, it is to be remembered that the number of cases during
the year was comparatively few, a point of importance in considering the significance
of this low case mortality.
The distribution of the cases certified and deaths amongst males and females in the Borough and the eight wards thereof during 1905 is shown in the subjoined table:—
| Ward. | ENTERIC FEVER. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cases Cebtipied. | Fatal Cases. | |||||
| Male. | Female. | Total. | Male. | Female. | Total. | |
| Moorfields | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Church | 4 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 1 | |
| Hoxton | 1 | 2 | 3 | |||
| Wen lock | 1 | 4 | 5 | |||
| Whitmore | 2 | 2 | 4 | |||
| Kingsland | 3 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 1 | |
| Haggerston | 5 | 7 | ||||
| Acton | 2 | 1 | 3 | |||
| Total for Borough | 16 | 20 | 36 | 2 | (1 | |
A grouping of the cases according to ages is shown in Table III. '(Appendix). Of
the cases certified, 28, or nearly 78 per cent., were removed for treatment chiefly to
the hospitals of the Metropolitan Asylums Board.
The results of the enquiries made as to the circumstances attending the occurrence
of enteric fever cases in the Borough during the year are set out in the annexed
summary:—