[Report 1903] / Medical Officer of Health, Preston County Borough.

  • Preston (Lancashire, England). County Borough Council.
Date:
1903
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1903] / Medical Officer of Health, Preston County Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    10/56 (page 8)
    tramps who pass through Preston in their journeys north and south, and the constant communicate n between this and the numerous adjoining towns, it is satisfactory that the outbreak was not of wider extent, and that no spread of disease followed upon the festivities of Easter or Whitsuntide. Information was received from, and forwarded to, the Medical Officers of other towns and districts, concerning the movements of persons who, having been in contact with the disease, might possibly be the means of introducing it into fresh localities, and this was a precautionary measure productive of good results. During times of Small Pox, the tramp classes undoubtedly form a danger to the community, since from their neglect of vaccination, their uncleanly habits, and system of herding together, they are especially liable to contract the disease, and so in their wanderings to sow it broadcast throughout the country. The compulsory vaccination and revaccination of casuals of all ages applying for admission to the various workhouses would be of the greatest benefit, and would to some extent compensate for the unsatisfactory manner in which, especially amongst these wandering classes, the vaccination laws are at present enforced. The cases of sickness from Typhoid Fever, as evidenced by the notifications received, were 143, whilst the deaths numbered 35, thus showing a case mortality of 24*47 per cent. Compared with the previous year, the amount of sickness was less, but the proportion of fatal cases was higher, pointing to a more severe form of the disease. Most of the deaths occurred between the ages of 15 and 45 years, and as regards locality Deepdale Ward showed the highest mortality followed by Ashton, Maudland, and Fishwick Wards. Although as usual it was impossible in the majority of cases to ascertain the actual cause of the illness, an examination of the premises frequently brought to light defects to which in all probability it might be attributed. Scarlet Fever was the cause of 14 deaths, whilst the reported cases of sickness amounted to 308, giving a case mortality of 4*54 per cent, and shewing, that despite the persistency with which the disease had remained in the town, it had duiing the past—as well as during the two preceding years—been mild in character. In 17 out of the 33 large towns, the death rate from Scarlet Fever exceeded that of Preston, while amongst the Lancashire towns, Liverpool, Salford, Burnley, Bolton and Oldham showed the heaviest mortality. Although Measles had been present in epidemic form during the latter part of 1902, the disease again appeared towards the middle of the past year, the deaths gradually increasing from 1 in July to 57 in the month of December.