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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Diphtheria.
| Ages. | No. of Cases Notified. | Deaths. | Death Rate per 100. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M. | F. | Total. | M. | F. | Total. | ||
| Under 1 year | 4 | 8 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 50.0 |
| 1 to 5 | 75 | 72 | 147 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 13.6 |
| 5 to 10 | 59 | 79 | 138 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 7.2 |
| 10 to 20 | 35 | 47 | 82 | 1 | — | 1 | 1.2 |
| 20 to 40 | 22 | 23 | 48 | — | — | — | — |
| 40 to 60 | 2 | 9 | 11 | — | — | — | _ |
| 60 and over | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
| Total | 197 | 242 | 439 | 19 | 18 | 37 | 8.4 |
During 1905, one school had to be closed on account of
Diphtheria, viz., the Infants' Department of St. Mark's School,
Kennington Oval. The outbreak began about September 12th,
1905, the first case being notified on that date, and subsequent
cases as follows :—Sept. 19th, 2; Sept. 23rd, 1 ; Sept. 25th, 1;
Sept. 26th, 2; Sept. 28th, 2; Sept. 29th, 1 ; Sept. 30th, 3;
Oct. 2nd, 1 ; Oct 8th, 1 ; Oct. 9th, 1 ; making a total of 16 school
cases in all (with 2 deaths). The total number of scholars on
the roll was 168, and the average attendance 127, so that from
10 to 13 per cent. of the scholars were affected.
The Infants' Department was closed for 14 days, and the
usual precautionary measures were taken, viz. isolation, disinfection,
medical inspection (with bacteriological examination) of
contacts, &c.
It is a significant fact that within 100 yards of the School
certain works had been carried out during September by the
London County Council in connection with the main sewer in