London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Lambeth 1905
Report on the vital and sanitary statistics of the Borough of Lambeth during the year 1905
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During July, 1905, 6 patients were removed to the Metropolitan Asylums Board Hospital as follows:—
| Date. | Number Removed. | Ages. |
|---|---|---|
| July 1 | 1 | 3. |
| „ 3 | 1 | 10. |
| „ 4 | 1 | 4. |
| „ 10 | 2 | 7, 13. |
| „ 14 | 1 | 6. |
| 6 | 3 to 13. |
Miss Orbell (aged 28 years), a clerk, living out and attending
at the School Infirmary daily, was notified by Dr. Adams as
suffering from bacteriological diphtheria on June 29th.—KlebsLœffler
bacilli having been found, on examination, in her throat.
She was not removed to the Metropolitan Asyiums Board
Hospital, but was isolated away from the Schools in a private
house in Norwood.
Thus, the outbreak at the Lambelh Parochial Schools consisted
of a total of 64 patients (viz., 62 children, 1 clerk, and
1 attendant), all of whom were, potentially or actually, suffering
from diphtheria, as shewn by bacteriological examination as
follows:—59 shewed Klebs-Lœffler bacilli, 2 Vincent's organisms
and? Klebs-Lœffler bacilli, and 3 both Klebs-Lœffler bacilli and
Vincent's organisms, in their throats or noses or both. Of the
64 patients, 52 shewed also clinical symptoms (more or less
severe) of diphtheria. 63 of the patients were removed to the
Metropolitan Asylums Board Hospitals, and I (a clerk) was
isolated at a private house, and not a single patient was
returned from Hospital, certified as "not suffering from
diphtheria. " No single death occurred.
The ages of the 62 children notified were as follows:—
| Age. | Number. | Age. | Number. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years | 3 | 9 years | 3 |
| 4 „ | 10 | 10 „ | 6 |
| 5 „ | 5 | 11 „ | 4 |
| 6 „ | 18 | 12 „ | — |
| 7 „ | 4 | 13 „ | 3 |
| 8 „ | 5 | 14 „ | 1 |
| Total 62 | |||