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164
Enteric (or Typhoid) Fever. —A continuous decrease in the number of cases
of this disease has been observed in this Parish for some years, and during 1891 it has
continued, 111 cases being notified with a death-rate of 0.16, as against 202 in the
preceding year; the death-rate in London was 0.12 per 1,000. This bears witness to
the thorough way in which the drainage work of the district has been carried out in the
houses, under the instructions of your Sanitary Staff.
Small Pox.—Two cases of this disease were reported in the early part of the
year, but being promptly removed, no other cases appeared.
Principal Zymotic Diseases.—Under this heading the Registrar groups
deaths from Small Pox, Diphtheria, Scarlet Fever, Fever (including Enteric),
Diarrhoea, Whooping Cough, and Measles. The death.rate for this group in 1891 was
3.9 for Shoreditcli, 2.3 for London.
Diarrhoea.—Mortality was below the average generally, due to the absence of
hot weather for any length of time. Shoreditch had 0.9 per 1,000, and London, 0.59.
81 of the deaths occurred in the third quarter of the year, when this disease is most
prevalent.
Measles and Whooping Cough.—In the first and last quarters of the last
two years a large number of deaths have resulted from these two diseases. During 1891
the death.rate from Measles was equal to 1.0 per 1,000, London giving 0.43 and
Whooping Cough 0.99, against 0.68 for London. The average rate during the last ten
years for London was, for Measles, 0.64, for Whooping Cough, 0.69.
On account of the large mortality from these diseases a desire has been expressed
to have them included under the Infectious Diseases Notification Act, and some Local
Authorities have so included Measles. This is a matter of special interest to Shoreditch,
because while death from Measles is comparatively rare in the families of the well.to.do,
there is ample proof that want of space, of pure air, of suitable food, and of proper
nursing and care, together with the often present dampness of the living rooms, lead to
a fatal issue in the families of the poorer classes, generally through the pulmonary or
intestinal complications which ensue. If the children could be moved from their
unhealthy surroundings, much benefit would certainly result, but without that I fail to
see that the benefit to be gained from notification would be an adequate equivalent to
the expense incurred. Experience among the poorer classes has convinced me that the
want of care taken when children are suffering from Measles and Whooping Cough is
due, to a great extent, to ignorance of the dangers attendant on those complaints, and
of the most elementary rules of health. With the view of doing a little to remove this
condition a circular, drawn up by myself, giving some instructions concerning these
complaints, and some precautions that may be taken, is to be distributed throughout
the Parish.
Erysipelas.—137 cases of this complaint were notified during last year. Many
of these cases are of a very slight nature, and I have instructed the Inspector, Mr. Lear,