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
Woolwich 1907
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Woolwich]
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diseases are prevalent or threatened, and their exclusion has
lately been recommended by the Assistant Medical Officer of the
Local Government Board in an official memorandum.
Scarlet Fever.
36. There were 1023 cases of scarlet fever notified, equivalent
to a rate of 7.91 per thousand population. This is the highest
rate since 1892, when it was 9.4.
37. The following table shews the case-rates of scarlet fever in the Borough and each parish during 1901-5 and the past two years, compared with London.
| Average | 1901-5. | 1906. | 1907. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Borough | ... | 3.15 | 4.15 | 7.91 |
| Woolwich Parish | ... | 2.99 | 3.83 | 6.10 |
| Plumstead Parish | ... | 3.24 | 4.22 | 8.56 |
| Eltham Parish | ... | 3.21 | 4.71 | 9.65 |
| London County | ... | 3.57 | 4.35 | 5.46 |
38. Table III. gives the age distribution, the number in each
ward, and the number removed to hospital. St. Nicholas's, St.
Margaret's, St. George's and Eltham Wards were most affected.
39. There were 14 deaths, giving a death-rate of 0.11 per 1000
population, compared with an average of 0.06, in the six preceding
years, and 0.19 in the ten years, 1891-1900. The deathrate
in London was 0.14. The case mortality (proportion of
deaths per cent. of notifications), 1.4, was again very low.
40. Hospital Isolation. Of the 1023 cases, 868, or 85 per
cent., were removed to one of the Fever Hospitals, compared with
86, 84, 81, and 78 per cent. in the four preceding years. 47
cases, or 4 per cent., were reported, after observation at hospital,
not to be scarlet fever.