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
Clerkenwell 1899
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Clerkenwell, St. James and St. John]
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in the district, and 19 deaths occurred among the cases removed
for treatment, giving a total of 23 deaths and a death-rate of 0.34
per 1,000. For London as a whole the Typhoid death-rate was 0.18.
The Clerkenwell rate of 0.34 was one of the highest in London.
| Mortality from EntericFever per 1,000 of the Population from 1890 to 1899 inclusive. | Notified cases of Enteric Fever per 1,000 of the Population from 1890 to 1899 inclusive. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year. | Mortality per 1,000 of Population. | Year. | Cases per 1,000 of Population. | |
Enteric Fever, as is well known, is an ulceration of certain parts
of the bowel, generally accompanied by illness throughout the
body and sometimes with serious complications. A summary of
the chief means by which the causal agent, the Bacillus of Typhoid
Fever is disseminated may be of service, inasmuch as Enteric
Fever is generally recognised as one of the best examples of
preventable disease.
1. Inhalation of Infected Sewer Air.—As a matter of fact, although
sewer air, by its weakening effect, may predispose to
Enteric Fever, it cannot alone, in all probability, actually
convey the disease itself.
2. Drinking Infected Water.—This is the commonest of all
channels in Enteric Fever. Some 200 different outbreaks
hs.ve been traced in this country to water-borne infection,
including epidemics at Worthing, Maidstone, Lynn, etc.
3. Infected Food. -The chief foods carrying the infection of
Enteric Fever are milk, shell-fish (infected oysters in