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 1930
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch]
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32
Infectious Diseases not notifiable in Shoreditch.
Measles.
This disease, which is one of the most serious of childhood, was more prevalent
than during 1929.
The deaths numbered 49 and occurred in the following age groups :—
Under 1 year 13
One to 2 years 25
Two to 5 years 8
Five to 10 years 3
49
Measles was responsible for 21.9 per cent. of all deaths of children under 5 years
of age.
As will be seen from the following table, measles is a disease which tends to become widespread every few years, for the reason that after a bad measles year a large number of children are protected by the fact that they have had the disease.
| Year | Deaths | Death rate per 1,000 population | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shoreditch | London | Shoreditch | London | |
| 1921 | 18 | 241 | 0.17 | 0.05 |
| 1922 | 84 | 1,559 | 0.81 | 0.35 |
| 1923 | 23 | 367 | 0.21 | 0.08 |
| 1924 | 58 | 1,335 | 0.55 | 0.29 |
| 1925 | 34 | 357 | 0.32 | 0.13 |
| 1926 | 25 | 914 | 0.23 | 0.20 |
| 1927 | 7 | 179 | 0.09 | 0.04 |
| 1928 | 59 | 1,355 | 0.59 | 0.30 |
| 1929 | 17 | 194 | 0.17 | 0.04 |
| 1930 | 49 | 1,035 | 0.50 | 0.23 |
The distribution of the deaths in the different wards was as shown on the table
on pages 12 and 13.
Information regarding cases of measles reaches the Public Health Department in
various ways:— From the School Authorities, from the Health Visitors, and from
Medical Practitioners in the Borough. The number of cases thus brought to our
knowledge was 1,165.
The London County Council will take severe cases, or cases in which home
nursing is specially difficult, upon the recommendation of the Medical Officer of
Health. During the year the number of cases removed to the hospitals of the
Council was 248.
In accordance with arrangements made by the Borough Council, the District
Nursing Association paid 363 visits in connection with 40 cases of measles.