London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Bethnal Green 1929
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Bethnal Green Borough]
This page requires JavaScript
66
violet rays. Similarly great advantages might be
obtained from the provision of modern inhalation
apparatus for the prevention or prompt cure of catarrhs.
An enormous amount of sickness might be prevented
by such means and it is regrettable that the necessary
steps cannot be taken either by private means or by
the local authority being empowered to act.
Diphtheria.
There were 342 cases of diphtheria notified during
the year. The age grouping of the cases is given in
the accompanying table.
All the cases were removed to an isolation hospital
except 1, which was treated at home, proper facilities
being available for isolation and treatment.
Seven deaths from this disease occurred during the
year, equivalent to a case mortality of 2.0 per cent., or
general death rate of 0.06 per 1,000 of the population.
In view of the considerable discussion during recent years of the incidence and mortality of Diphtheria, in connection with proposals for the adoption of the Schick test and immunisation by means of toxin-anti-toxin, the following figures are given as to the experience of the Borough:—
| Notifications | Deaths | Death rate per 1,000 pop. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1917 | 340 | 19 | 0.17 |
| 1918 | 337 | 26 | 0.25 |
| 1919 | 552 | 58 | 0.53 |
| 1920 | 580 | 36 | 0.31 |
| 1921 | 565 | 34 | 0.28 |
| 1922 | 539 | 34 | 0.28 |
| 1923 | 489 | 20 | 0.17 |
| 1924 | 566 | 29 | 0.24 |
| 1925 | 493 | 19 | 0.16 |
| 1926 | 646 | 21 | 0.17 |
| 1927 | 476 | 16 | 0.13 |
| 1928 | 385 | 9 | 0.07 |
| 1929 | 342 | 7 | 0.06 |