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
Paddington 1899
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington]
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294
fatal or less prevalent. Diarrhœa, unfortunately, has
been markedly more prevalent during the second half
of the decennium than during the first, and the increase
since 1897 has been striking. Moreover, the
94 deaths (35 in excess of the decennial average) do
not complete the toll taken by this disease. For
some years past, apparently more so since 1895, many
deaths hitherto certified as due to "diarrhœa" have
been ascribed to "enteritis," "gastro-enteritis," and
other terms of a similar character. In considering
the deaths from this (a most especial "filth" disease)
the two groups should be taken together. The result
of the combination is that the deaths which have to
be attributed to "summer" or "epidemic" diarrhœa
amount to 140, being only 14 short of double the
average (77). The actual figures are as follow :—
As regards the causes of death among these children (see Table 23), it will be noticed that last year the deaths due to Measles were much under the average, owing to the absence of any epidemic. If the annual average of 11 deaths be taken as the basis for distinguishing between epidemic and non-epidemic years, this disease was epidemic six times during 1889-98, and non-epidemic, four, viz.:—
| Epidemic Years. | Non-Epidemic. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | 20 | 1889 | 1 |
| 1892 | 16 | 1891 | — |
| 1893 | 12 | 1895 | 3 |
| 1894 | 16 | 1897 | 1 average 1.2 per annum. |
| 1896 | 20 | ||
| 1898 | 18 average 17 per annum. | ||
The record of last year represents increases of 122,
49, and 79 per cent. over and above the averages for
the first and second quinquennia and the decennium
respectively, and a mortality of 47 per 1,000 births
registered.