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
East Ham 1907
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for East Ham]
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The cases of Small Pox in the Borough during the past ten years have been as follows:—
| Year. | No. of Cases. | No. of Deaths. |
|---|---|---|
| 1898 | 1 | — |
| 1899 | — | — |
| 1900 | 2 | — |
| 1901 | 31 | — |
| 1902 | 211 | 24 |
| 1903 | 5 | — |
| 1904 | 2 | — |
| 1905 | — | — |
| 1906 | — | — |
| 1907 | — | — |
| Total 252 | 24 |
SCARLET FEVER.
There was a considerable increase in the number of cases of
this disease, as compared with the previous year. The number
notified being 1,080, while in 1906 the total was only 790. The
increase was occasioned by the large number of cases which
occurred in the last four months of the year. Of the 1,080 cases
notified, 508 were reported in the first eight months of the year,
and 572 in the last four months.
22 deaths occurred from the disease.
Although, as previously stated, the chief cause of the continued
prevalence of certain Infectious diseases, particularly Scarlet
Fever, is probably due to mild, unrecognised cases, this is not the
only cause. Patients who are nursed at home, in this district at all
events, more often give rise to other cases in the family than
occur when the first patient is promptly removed to hospital.
This is what one would naturally expect, but, as stated on
page 12, statements have been made to the contrary, and the
value of Isolation Hospitals doubted.