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

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Shoreditch 1926

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch]

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7
Altogether 828 or 63.7 per cent. of the people belonging to Shoreditch, who died
during the year, died in public institutions. During recent years this percentage
has markedly increased.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
The infectious diseases included under the headings 1 to 35 inclusive and 171
and 172 in Table V. (Appendix) were the cause of 265 deaths. This number is
markedly below the average, being 20.4 per cent. of the total mortality from all
causes, as compared with 21.5 per cent. in 1925, 22.3 in 1924, 20.3 in 1923, 25.7 in
1922, 26.6 in 1921, 25.0 in 1920, 28.5 in 1919, 37.7 in 1918 and 30.2 in 1917. The
heavy mortality during 1918 was exceptional and was the result of influenza. During
1926 tuberculosis accounted for nearly 57 per cent.of the deaths from these infectious
diseases. The death-rate due to these diseases was 2.5 per 1,000 population as
compared with 2.8 in 1925, 3.0 in 1924, 2.6 in 1923, 4.2 in 1922, 3.8 in 1921, 3.9 in
1920, 4.5 in 1919, 9.1 in 1918 and 6.8 in 1917.

In the subjoined table the deaths from the infectious diseases referred to above have been grouped according to age : —

Age period.Under 11-55-1010-1515-2020-2525-3535-4545-5555-6565-7575-8585 and upwards.
No. of deaths164997204034243022113

Of the total mortality from all causes of children under five years, 24.5 per cent.
resulted from these diseases. In infants under one year diarrhoea and measles
accounted for most of the deaths. Amongst children aged from one to five years,
measles, diphtheria and tuberculosis were the chief causes of death. Most of the
mortality from infectious diseases amongst persons aged from 15 years upwards
was the result of consumption, influenza and sceptic diseases.
The deaths from the principal zymotic diseases, smallpox, measles, scarlet fever
diphtheria, whooping cough, enteric fever and diarrhoea (excluding enteritis) numbered
54, which yield a zymotic death-rate of 0.5 per 1,000 population. Including deaths
from enteritis under two years this rate is increased to 0.6 per 1,000. A comparison
of the zymotic death-rates of London and Shoreditch and the eight Wards of the
Borough is given in Table VI. (Appendix). The rate was highest in Hoxton and lowest
in Moorfields. It may be noted that the Shoreditch rate this year does not exceed
that of London, which is a very exceptional circumstance. The zymotic death-rate
for Shoreditch has invariably exceeded that of London in the past.
The cases of scarlet fever, diphtheria, erysipelas, enteric fever and puerperal
fever notified, numbered 872, as compared with 28,476 for the whole of the metropolis
; the attack-rates being 8.2 for Shoreditch and 6.2 per 1,000 population for
London,