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
West Ham 1924
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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51
Plaistow Hospital.
Annual Report for 1924.
The total number of cases treated in the Hospital during
1924 showed an increase of 214 over the number treated in
1923. The type of disease was also, on the average, much
more severe. This is shown by the number of deaths, which
totalled 80 in 1924 as compared with 43 in the previous year.
This increase is due mainly to the fact that a severe epidemic
of Measles was raging in the district at the beginning of the
year, and was followed closely by an epidemic of Whooping
Cough. Severe and complicated cases of these two diseases
were admitted as accommodation became available, and together
they accounted for 34 of the deaths, whereas there
were no deaths from these diseases in the previous year.
Diphtheria cases showed a slight increase over the number
treated in the previous year, but the type of disease, on the
average, continued mild. There was a marked decline in the
admissions from both Scarlet Fever and Typhoid Fever.
The chief causes of death during the year are briefly summarised as follows: —
| Scarlet Fever caused | 4 deaths. |
|---|---|
| Diphtheria ,, | 27 |
| Typhoid Fever ,, | 1 |
| Measles ,, | 19 |
| Whooping Cough ,, | 15 |
| Pneumonia ,, | 7 |
| Other diseases ,, | 7 |
| Total | 80 |
The mortality rate, calculated on all the cases admitted,
was 5.94 per cent.
At the beginning of the year 215 cases were in residence,
and 1345 were admitted, making a total of 1560 cases under
treatment during the year. Of these, 1252 were discharged
recovered, 80 died, and 228 remained under treatment at the
end of the year.
The following table shows the admissions and deaths for
each month of the year; —