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
Lewisham 1929
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham Borough]
This page requires JavaScript
44
Diphtheria.
The number of cases of this disease notified during the
year was 416, compared with 334 in the previous year. With
the exception of 12 cases, all the patients were removed to
Hospital. There were 15 deaths from Diphtheria.
The figures for the past ten years are shown below :—
| Diphtheria Cases. | Deaths. | Mortality per ioo cases | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 453 | 46 | 10.2 |
| 1921 | 515 | 28 | 5.4 |
| 1922 | 447 | 32 | 7.1 |
| 1923 | 295 | 27 | 9.0 |
| 1924 | 190 | 10 | 5.2 |
| 1925 | 256 | 17 | 6.6 |
| 1926 | 377 | 10 | 2.6 |
| 1927 | 311 | 16 | 5.1 |
| 1928 | 334 | 15 | 4.5 |
| 1929 | 416 | 15 | 3.6 |
Diphtheria Anii-toxin Serum.
For the convenience of medical practitioners, anti-toxin can
be obtained from the Public Health Department at any hour,
and is supplied at cost price, or free in necessitous cases.
During the year, 57 phials of 8,000 units each (for treatment
purposes) were supplied free, and one at cost price.
Twenty-two prophylactic doses of 500 units each were supplied
free, and four at cost price.
The cost of this service to the Council was approximately £24.
Typhoid and Para-typhoid Fever.—One hundred and ten
cases of Typhoid Fever were notified during the year, and two
cases of Para-typhoid.