[Report 1903] / Medical Officer of Health, Little Hulton U.D.C.

  • Little Hulton (England). Urban District Council.
Date:
1903
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1903] / Medical Officer of Health, Little Hulton U.D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    the lowest since 1897 and compares most favourably with the average rate during that period, viz., 1417. These deaths account for 21 '2 per cent, of the total deaths. Zymotic Mortality.—The number of deaths caused by the Seven principal Zymotic Diseases, viz., “Smallpox,” “Measles,” “Scarlet Fever,” “ Whooping Cough,” “Enteric Fever,” “Diarhoea,” “ Diphtheria and Membranous Croup,” was 12, the same number as last year, giving a rate of 1*64 per 1000. Measles accounted for two of the deaths, Diphtheria one, Enteric Fever one, and Diarhoea (under which are now classified several other distinct diseases) eight. Respiratory Diseases..—The three Diseases, “ Bronchitis,” “Pneumonia,” and “Pleurisy” were responsible for 21 deaths, a decrease of four compared with last year, and equal to a rate of 2 8 per 1000 ; the rate for the EYban Districts in the County being 3‘04 in 1902. A large number of these deaths were persons over 60 years old. Phthisis—adopted by you a Voluntary Notifiable Disease—was the cause of three deaths, giving a rate equal to 0*41 per 1000. I am pleased to say the deaths this year from this preventible disease were six less than in 1902. They were all members of one family, living in the same premises in Smithfold Lane, one of the most insanitary parts of your District ; and had it been possible to have removed the first case affected in the early stages of the illness, in all probability the other two would not have contracted the disease. It is to be hoped that the Lancashire County Council will provide in the near future Sanatorias, more particularly for those affected persons who are too poor to pay for treatment in the existing ones. It is recognised that the predisposing causes to Tuberculosis are overcrowding, ill-ventilated rooms, dirty, dark, damp dwellings, intemperance, and bad or insufficient food. Infectious Diseases.—The number of cases notified was 128, viz. : Smallpox 1, Erysipelas 6, Membranous Croup and Diphtheria 26, Enteric Fever 8, Puerperal Fever 2, Phthisis (Voluntary) 1, and Scarlet Fever 84. This is much the largest number notified since you adopted the Act, almost double any previous year’s, the chief increase being due to Scarlet Fever. Forty-four cases were removed to the Farnworth Hospital, as against 18 last year, 38 of them being Scarlet Fever, 3 Enteric Fever, 3 Diphtheria, and 1 Smallpox. I have again to thank the School Teachers for sending me lists of children suffering from other Infectious Diseases.