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

Wandsworth 1914

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth, Metropolitan Borough]

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79
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
The highest percentage of mistaken diagnosis occurred in
respect of Cerebro-spinal Meningitis and Anthrax, viz.:—100 per
cent., both cases of each disease removed proving on further
examination not to have been suffering from that disease.

Table: TABLE Xl.V

TABLE Xl.V

Disease.No. of cases of mistaken diagnosis.Percentage of error in Diagnosis.
Clapham.Putney.Streatham.Tooting. 1Wandsworth.Total.Total cases removed.
Scarlet Fever9452118571,2154.6
Diphtheria6569164246488.8
Enteric Fever......235103033.3
Continued Fever.....................
Cerebrospinal Meningitis............111100.0
Puerperal Fever............11244.1
Polio-Myelitis........................
Ophthalmia Neonatorum..................5...
Anthrax............111100.0
Total159133342112I.7406.4

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In 1913 the percentage of cases of mistaken diagnosis for the
whole of London was, for Scarlet Fever 5.5, compared with 6.4 in
1912 ; for Diphtheria 13.3, compared with 12.9 ; and for Enteric
Fever 20.5 compared with 40.8.
Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis.
Three cases were notified during the year, (two in Clapham,
and one in Tooting), compared with nine in 1913, three in 1912,
and five in 1911.
One of these cases proved not to be Cerebro-spinal Meningitis.
Of the remaining two cases notified, one died of Cerebro-spinal
Meningitis and the other case recovered,