Dr. R.W. Johnstone's report to the Local Government Board upon an outbreak of enteric fever in the Urban District of Ormesby.

  • Johnstone, R. W.
Date:
1909
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Dr. R.W. Johnstone's report to the Local Government Board upon an outbreak of enteric fever in the Urban District of Ormesby. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    IfZ 11 Table V. JShoiviiiff the number of houses invaded by enteric fever in Ormesby Urban District during each year of the period 1898-1907 inclusive, distinguishing invaded houses loitli privy middens from invaded houses with pail closets: also the approximate number of houses using each of these methods in each year. — No. of houses with privy _ middens in- vaded by enteric fever. No. of houses witli pail closets invaded by enteric fever. No. of houses with privy middens in the district. No. of houses with pail closets in the district. 1898 37 4 1,482 452 1899 18 1,472 490 1900 3 1 1,462 569 1901 8 4 1,452 687 1902 5 1 1,442 770 1903 7 1 1,432 884 1904 8 4 1,422 1,038 1905 — 3 1,112 1,170 1906 8 2 1,402 1,381 1907 6 12 1,392 1,531 It Avill be seen from this table that in every year except three the incidence of enteric fever upon houses vrith privy middens was proportionally greater than upon houses with pail closets. Thus in 1898 when the privy midden houses were between three and four times as numerous as the pail closet houses, the notifications from the former were more than nine times as numerous as those from the latter. In 1907, 1905, and 1901 the pail closet houses suffered in greater proportion than did the others. It is to be noted, however, that in 1901 the relative incidence of the fever on pail closet houses was but little in excess of that on privy midden houses ; while in 1905, the number of notifications of the fever in the district was too small to afford means of properly making comparison of this sort. In 1907, the markedly heavier incidence of the fever on pail closet houses may conceivably have been due to other influences than those habitually operating in relation with methods of excrement disposal, a hypothesis which receives some encouragement from the unusual seasonal prevalence of the disease in this year to which attention has been drawn on p. 4. But, however this may be, occasional variations such as those observed in 1901, 1905, and 1907, do not seriously afiect the weight of evidence afforded by considerable data extending over a period of years. During the whole 10-year period the average proportion of pail closet houses per 100 houses existing was 38’4, and the average number of privy midden houses per 100 houses existing was 61*6. Thus it would be expected, in the absence of special predilection of enteric fever for either class of houses, that the proportion of invaded houses of each class per 100 houses invaded, would be approximately 38’4 and 61’6. This is not the case, the proportion of invaded pail closet houses per 100 houses invaded is only 24‘2 for the whole period instead of 38’4, while that of the privy midden houses is 758 instead of 61-6, clearly showing that during the '01-year period, houses with privy middens were invaded by enteric