View report page

81
Enteritis.
The number of deaths from Enteritis—which includes Gastro Enteritis, Muco
Enteritis, and Gastric Catarrh—was 188. Of this number, 52 were those of children
under 1 year of age.
39 occurred in the Limehouse District, or at the rate of .67 per 1,000 of
the population.
54 occurred in the St. George's District, or at the rate of 1.08 per 1,000 of
the population.
54 occurred in the Mile End District, or at the rate of .47 per 1,000 of
the population.
41 occurred in the Whitechapel District, or at the rate of .51 per 1,000 of
the population.
The death-rate for the whole of the Borough was at the rate of .62 per 1,000 of
the population.
Puerpural Fever.
21 cases of Puerperal Fever occurred, of which 14 proved fatal. Five occurred
in Limehouse; 3 in St. George's; 5 in Mile End; and 8 in Whitechapel.
Chicken Pox.
On February 7th, Chicken Pox was made a notifiable disease by the London
County Council. I considered it would not be to the best interests of the District,
and the Borough Council petitioned the Local Government Board not to give its
approval. They were not successful. My chief objection to it was, that instead of
asking me to see doubtful cases of Small-pox, as the medical practitioners in the
District had been in the habit of doing, they would, even in doubtful cases, notify
the disease as Chicken Pox. This actually occurred afterwards. If the Local Government
Board had at the same time extended the privileges of the Medical Officers of
Health, and gave them power to visit and verify the diagnosis of the medical practitioner
in attendance, there would not be so much danger attached to it. A Medical
Officer of Health has, however, no right to question the accuracy of any notification
certificate; but must accept it, whether he has reason to believe that the diagnosis
is correct or not. I saw the danger there might be in not taking any action in the
matter, and decided to visit and examine all cases of Chicken Pox notified to me,
irrespective of their ages. I reported my intentions to the Council, and my action
was approved. The result proved that my fears were well founded. I found that
F