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
Hackney 1929
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]
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44
Small.pox.—There were 58 notifications of small.pox in the
Borough during 1929, and several cases of small.pox were, so to
speak, related to Hackney in that their movements in the Borough
required action by the Public Health Department. No death from this
disease occurred during the year.
Scarlet Fever or Scarlatina.—The number of cases of scarlet
fever notified during 1929 was 856. This is a decrease of 91
upon the number of cases notified during 1928.
The attack rate for scarlet fever was 4.0 per 1,000 persons
living, and for England and Wales 3.05. The number of cases removed
to hospital during the year was 810. This is equal to 94.6 per cent. of the total notified.
The following table shows the distribution of scarlet fever in the respective sub.districts of the Borough:—
| Sub.Districts. | North. | Central. | South.west. | South.east. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of cases of Scarlet Fever | 177 | 181 | 279 | 216 |
| Attack.rate per 1,000 living | 3.3 | 3.7 | 5.0 | 4.0 |
It will be seen from the above that scarlet fever was most prevalent
in the South.West sub.district.
Twenty.eight patients notified as suffering from scarlet fever
were found, after admission to hospital, not to be suffering from an
infectious disease, and were returned home.
Twenty of the 856 cases of scarlet fever were patients in the same
family as a person who had within the previous 28 days returned from
hospital after having been treated for this disease.
Cases of this kind are called " return " cases, and careful investigation
is made in these cases with a view to ascertaining whether there
is any direct evidence that infection has been conveyed by the discharged
patient. No such evidence could be obtained in regard to
the twenty " return " cases.
The deaths from scarlet fever during 1929 numbered 1, which is
equal to a case mortality of 0.01 per cent. attacked, and a scarlet fever
death.rate of 0.005 per 1,000 inhabitants. The mortality rate for
London from scarlet fever during the same year was 0.02 per 1,000
inhabitants.
Diphtheria and Membranous Croup.—There were 670 cases of
diphtheria and membranous croup notified during the year. This is a
decrease of 71 upon the number of cases notified during 1928.
The attack rate of diphtheria was 3.1 per 1,000 inhabitants, compared
with 1.59 for England and Wales.
There were 657 cases removed to hospital during the year. This
is equal to 98.1 per cent. of the cases notified.