On This Day, 24 April 1918

Birmingham Daily Post

Wednesday 24 April 1918

HEALTH OF BIRMINGHAM

Notwithstanding the cold weather of last week the good health of the citizens of Birmingham was well maintained. The number of deaths registered was 208, giving a total death-rate of 12.1 per 1,000 of the population per annum, as compared with 12.5 in the previous week and 15.4 in the corresponding week of last year. There were three deaths from measles against one, and 123 new cases were reported, a decrease of 35 on the week and 873 fewer than in the same week a year ago. Such ailments as whooping cough, chicken pox, and mumps are very bad in Birmingham just now.  Eleven deaths occurred from whooping cough last week, against 9, and 108 fresh cases were notified against 222. Seventy-six cases of chicken pox were reported from the schools against 133, and 468 cases of mumps against 528. In the corresponding week of last year there were 66 new cases of whooping cough, 116 of chicken pox, and 82 of mumps. Diphtheria was responsible for 2 deaths, 16 fresh cases were recorded, and 115 patients are in hospital. No death has arisen from scarlet fever for several weeks. Seventeen new cases were registered last week, and 151 patients are under treatment. Two deaths were due to diarrhoea, 34 to respiratory diseases, and 1 to cerebo spinal meningitis or “spotted” fever. There were 19 deaths from pulmonary tuberculosis, 56 fresh cases were reported, and on Saturday 551 patients were in the city sanatoria, a decrease of 18 on the week.