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
Fulham 1918
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Fulham]
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The following table gives the age and sex distribution of the deaths from influenza:—
TABLE VII.
| Age. | Sex. | Total. | Percentage of deaths at each age period. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Males. | Females. | |||
| Under 1 year | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0.8 |
| 1-2 years | 7 | 11 | 18 | 3.7 |
| 2-5 „ | 14 | 17 | 81 | 6.3 |
| 5-10 ,, | 12 | 11 | 23 | 4.7 |
| 10-15 „ | 8 | 9 | 17 | 3.5 |
| 15-25 ,, | 25 | 50 | 75 | 15.3 |
| 25-85 „ | 89 | 86 | 125 | 25.6 |
| 3o-4o ,, | 37 | 41 | 78 | 16.0 |
| 45-55 „ | 20 | 30 | 50 | 10.2 |
| 55-65 „ | 17 | 14 | 31 | 6.3 |
| 65-75 „ | 14 | 11 | 25 | 5.1 |
| Over 75 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 2.5 |
It will be seen that the highest mortality was in the
age period 25-35 years, while the fatality among old
people was proportionately not so great as in the
epidemics of 1890-1895. The sexes suffered about
equally, the excess of female deaths between 15 and 45
being accounted for by the difference in the sex
population at those ages.
Administrative Action. Provision of Nurses.—In
a great number of cases it was impossible to secure proper
nursing, as not only was there an unprecedented amount
of sickness, but there was a shortage of nurses owing to
the requirements of the fighting forces. The Council
tried to obtain nurses from the Hammersmith and
Fulham District Nursing Association, but no additional
nurses could be engaged by the Association. The
Health Visitors and the Tuberculosis Nurses gave
nearly all their time and did what they could, but
unfortunately both the Tuberculosis Nurses contracted
the disease. A band of V.A.D. workers which was