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18 Parish of St. George the Martyr, Southwark.
The case-mortality, or proportion of deaths to attacks, from Measles among
the badly nurtured children of St. George, Southwark, is undoubtedly considorab
augmented through the frequent unhealthiness of the homes of the patients and was
of a sufficiency of pure and heated air, coupled with the indifference and neglect
ignorant parents, who commonly look upon Measles as a necessary and unimporta
evil.
Were the wards of the Metropolitan Asylum Board Hospitals opened
sufferers from Measles, such a step would undoubtedly lead to a great saving of lis
amongst young children, especially from the effects of the pulmonary complicatio
and sequelae of the disease.
.
Whooping Cough.—This complaint (alsounnotifiable) is proportionally very fat
in the district of St. George, Southwark. I believe both Measles and Whoopi
Cough are chiefly spread through the medium of schools, and that this agen
becomes more potent as attendance at school is more strictly enforced.
Small-pox.—No death occurred in St. George, Southwark, from this disea;
and only two cases (one of these cases, however, on being removed to the Small-p
Hospital was found not to be a case of that disease), came under the notice of t
Public Health Department.
There were 29 deaths from Small-pox and 436 cases notified in London, t
largest number since 1884 and 1885 when there were as many as 1,251 and 1,4
deaths respectively from this disease. The greatest prevalence was in the Sprit
the outbreak reaching its maximum in May, when 113 cases in all were notitification
Out of the 41 Sanitary Districts of London only six completely escaped from Sim
pox. The London Districts that suffered most from the scourge were Slioredit
(86 cases), Bethnal Green (38 cases), and Whitechapel (23 cases) in the East E???
whilst those in the North of London, most severely affected, were Islington (46 cast???
St. Pancras (37 cases), and Hackney (27 cases). South and West London was
comparatively little visited by the disease.
I fear the Salvation Army Shelter, situated in the Blackfriars Road, which
capable of accomodating nightly, 400 men and youths in practically one la
Dormitory, at a charge of Id. and 2d., according to accommodation given—i.e., bu
bench, or bare floor, will in the future, prove a serious means of spreading Small-}
and other communicable diseases.
I understand the Shelter is to be very shortly considerably enlarged, am
believe, that prompt measures should be taken, in the public interest, to place t
and other similar shelters—benevolent or purely money-making in their aims—urn
the salutary provisions of the Common Lodging Houses Acts.
A copy of the Placard I have issued under the heading of "Small-pox and
Prevention," for distribution within the houses of the infected, and the Comn
Lodging Houses, and the Parish generally, will be found under Appendix A.
Scarlet Fever or Scarlatina.— The prevalence of Scarlet Fever in Londor
1892 exceeded that in any year on record. No fewer than 13,187 Scarlet Fe
patients were admitted into the Metropolitan Asylums Hospitals during the year
The disease, however, particularly prevalent during the summer and autui
was mild in type and gave a correspondingly low case-mortality.
Towards the end of September, 1892, the available accommodation for Sea
Fever cases in the Hospitals of the Asylums Board became temporarily exhaust
and fresh and picked cases only were admitted as vacancies were occasioned
discharges and deaths. This unfortunate state of affairs continued, so far as
district of St. George, Southwark, was concerned, through the month of October;
newly-opened North-Eastern Hospital, at Tottenham, owing to its inaccessibi