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
Walthamstow 1902
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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The following Table shows the death rate in the various wards from this disease:.
TABLE XVII.
| St. James Street. | High Street. | Hoe Street. | Wood Street. | Northern Ward. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Births | 764 | 733 | 648 | 480 | 791 |
| Birth.Rate | 33.22 | 36.65 | 29.45 | 30 | 39.55 |
| Number of Deaths | 5 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
| Death.Rate | .21 | .6 | .09 | 13 | .35 |
The deaths from Diarrhoea for the whole district was .27 per 1.000.
The similar rate for England and Wales was .38 and for the "76
great towns " .54, or exactly double the rate in this district
MEASLES AND WHOOPING COUGH.
During the year Measles caused 14 deaths and Whooping Cough 23
deaths, compared with 43 deaths from Measles and 26 deaths from
Whooping Cough in 1901.
Twenty.one of the 37 deaths occurred in children under 1 year.
Compared with Scarlatina and Diphtheria, Measles and Whooping
Cough caused 14 deaths more than those diseases whose prevention
costs your Authority over £5,000 per annum.
"The fear, which Scarlatina and Diphtheria engenders in most
people, contrasts strangely with the utter disregard shown towards
complaints that are far more fatal and equally infectious—familiarity
breeds contempt."
The death rate for Measles was .13 as compared with .5 for England
and Wales.
The death rate for Whooping Cough was .22 as compared with .29
for England and Wales.
Both rates are very satisfactory—the country generally having a rate
three times greater than that of your district.