London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Hackney 1857

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]

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7
The first group of diseases, the zymotic, produced the largest mortality,
namely '293 deaths out of the 1484, or 19'8 per cent. The second
in order of fatality was tubercular which caused a mortality of 2/6, or
18.5 per cent. The third was diseases of the lungs and organs of respiration
which were fatal to 252 persons or 16.9 per cent. The fourth
in order was diseases of the brain and nerves from which 161 persons
died, or 10'9 per cent. In the fifth group, viz., old age and decay,
there were no less than 106 deaths registered ; whilst cancer, dropsy,
and other diseases of " uncertain seat" were returned as fatal in 80
instances, or 5'4 per cent Diseases of the stomach and digestive organs
roduced a mortality of 71, rr 4 8 per cent. Affections of the heart and
blood.vessels caused death in 59 instances only, or 3'9 per cent. Each
of the other groups of diseases caused a rate of death which was
below 3 per cent, viz. violent deaths 42, or 2'8 per cent.; premature
birth 37 or 2.5 per cent., Atrophy 25 or 1.7 per cent.; sudden death
and diseases of the kidneys 23 each, or 1.6 per cent.; Childbirth 19,
or 1.3 per cent.; diseases of the bones and joints 7 or 0 5 per cent, and
the others a still smaller rate.
The deaths from the chief epidemic diseases were 249 in number, of
which 1 was caused by small pox, 22 by measles, 41 by scarlet fever,
67 by hooping couerh, 69 by diarrhoea, and 59 by fever. The following
table shows the rate of death from these diseases in each quarter of the
year, viz., that measles was most fatal in the spring quarter, scarlet
fever in the autumn, hooping cough in summer, diarrhoea, in summer,
and fever in autumn. I mention here that the first quarter must
be considered winter, as it embraces January and February, the two
coldest months of the year, and the last autumn although it includes
December. I am compelled to adopt this arrangement as to season,
to bring my returns in unison with those of the Registrar General :—

TABLE V.

1857.Quarters.TOTALS
FirstSecondThirdFourth
Small Pox00011
Measles8105422
Scarlatina102101941
Hooping Cough1416171057
Diarrhœa6450969
Fever910192159
TOTALS.424210164249