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
Southwark 1923
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southwark, Borough of]
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40
deaths from this disease are lower in number than in 1922. The total
notifications numbered 770 and the deaths 49 for the year.
The increase in both notifications and deaths may probably be
accounted for by the increase in the number of throat swabs taken by
practitioners and forwarded for examination, as no doubt many cases
otherwise classed as doubtful are discovered to be carrying the bacillus.
This again reacts on the death return as many deaths now known to
have been due to the Diphtheria bacillus would formerly have been
returned as due to some other cause.
The percentage of deaths to the cases notified was 6.4.
The annual mortality per 1,000 inhabitants was 0.26.
The number of cases notified as compared with London, during the last ten years was:—
| In Southwark. | In London. | In Southwark. | In London | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1914 | 338 | 9,118 | 1919 | 505 | 9,479 |
| 1915 | 387 | 9,166 | 1920 | 457 | 13,784 |
| 1916 | 442 | 8,754 | 1921 | 537 | 16,319 |
| 1917 | 580 | 8,300 | 1922 | 749 | 15,272 |
| 1918 | 504 | 8,174 | 1923 | 770 | 10,353 |
Number of deaths from Diphtheria during the last ten years:—
| In Southwark. | In London. | In Southwark. | In London | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1914 | 37 | 706 | 1919 | 42 | 777 |
| 1915 | 37 | 699 | 1920 | 37 | 1,009 |
| 1916 | 41 | 604 | 1921 | 30 | 1,054 |
| 1917 | 46 | 580 | 1922 | 61 | 1,137 |
| 1918 | 41 | 654 | 1923 | 49 | 602 |
Of the 770 cases notified 766, or 99 5 per cent. were removed to
hospital with 49 deaths, a mortality of 6.4 per cent. In regard to the
4 cases nursed at home, they all recovered.
ENTERIC FEYER.
Two death from Enteric Fever occurred during the year, a mortality
of 11.1 per cent. as against 3, 1 and 5, in the three preceding years.
The total number of cases notified was 18 for the present year, and
3, 7 and 8, for the three preceding years.