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6
in all London the mortality from this disease is excessive; the total
number of deaths being, for the 14 weeks ended April 3rd, 2121.
This gives an average of about 151 per week, and shows a greater
mortality from hooping-cough alone than from small pox, measles,
scarlet fever and diphtheria combined; the total deaths from the
above-named four diseases being 1506, (viz., from small-pox 126,
measles 379, scarlet-fever 854, diphtheria 147) or 615 less than from
hooping-cough. If the mortality from hooping-cough were to be
maintained at the same rate per week throughout the year, the total
deaths would be about 7800—a fearful sacrifice of infant life. From
the fact that hooping-cough principally attacks infants and young
children who are carried in their mother's arms from place to place,
and are allowed to run about and play with other children, and are
frequently seen in public conveyances, it would be impracticable,
owing to the unwillingness of the mothers to be separated from their
children, to adopt the usual plan for preventing the spreading of contagion,
such as complete isolation of the patients, and the thorough
disinfection of rooms and the clothing used by the sufferers. In the
present state of our knowledge respecting contagion, isolation appears
to be the only effectual plan for arresting it. The following are the
localities where deaths have occurred from hooping-cough in this
District during the Quarter ended April 3rd, 1880; from which it
appears that the disease has not been confined to any particular
locality, but has been diffused generally throughout the entire District,
with the exception of the Aldgate sub-District, in which no death
has been recorded. The deaths from hooping-cough in England for
the Quarter were 4872, and exceed the deaths from scarlet-fever
by 331.
Localities where deaths have occurred from Hooping-cough during
the Quarter ended 3rd April, 1880.
Spitalfields.
44, Grey Eagle Street 1
22, Church Street 1
3, Paternoster Row 2
4, Dorset Street 1
33, White Lion Street 1
5, Frying Pan Alley 1
Mile End New Town.
12, King Street 1
Metropolitan Buildings 1
172, Hanbury Street 1
183, Hanbury Street 1
20, Victoria Cottages, Pelham Street 1