View report page

35
the several metropolitan boroughs Bethnal Green and Poplar had the highest death rate (0'49),
and Chelsea, Westminster and Battersea the lowest (0.12). The diphtheria death rates in
London in the four quarters of the year 1901 were as follows: first quarter, 0'26 ; second quarter,
0'20 ; third quarter, 0.31 ; and fourth quarter 0.40 per 1,000 living.
To enable the variations in diphtheria prevalence in the several metropolitan boroughs
to be more clearly appreciated the following table has been prepared. This table shows the comparative
case rates of each borough in each of the years 1891-1901 inclusive, i.e., the case rates
of each borough are shown in relation to the London case rate of the same year, the London
rate being taken as 100.

Diphtheria and elementary schools.
The reports of medical officers of health show the following prevalences of diphtheria
among children attending particular schools. The medical officer of Chelsea mentions the
occurrence of four cases among the scholars of St. Simon's School, Milner-street, and five cases
among those of Christchurch School, both of which were closed and disinfected. In Islington " an
undue number of cases (57) occurred among the pupils of the Queen's Head-street Board School,
the cases being distributed throughout the year." It was not found necessary to adopt any special
measures in connection with the outbreak. In Stoke Newington in 14 cases, or 10.2 per cent, of
the total cases, school attendance was alleged by the parents or surmised by the medical officer of
health to be responsible for the attack. In Lambeth a private school of 52 scholars was closed in
March on account of a pupil teacher contracting the disease. In several reports a tabular statement
is supplied showing the number of scholars attending each of the elementary schools
attacked with diphtheria.
Reference has been made in previous annual reports to the decline in diphtheria
prevalence which occurs during the holiday period of the schools of the London School Board.
The following table shows that the figures for the year 1901 are not exceptional in this respect
The summer holiday of the schools of the London School Board began on Thursday, the 25th
July, i.e., the latter part of the 30th week, and the schools reopened on Monday, the 26th
August, i.e., the beginning of the 35th week. If the number of cases in the four weeks preceding
and four weeks subsequent to the weeks most subject to holiday influence be compared, the
following results are obtained for the age periods of 0—3, 3—13, and 13 years and upwards. It
will be observed that the decrease in the number of cases notified during the period of holiday
influence, and the increase in the subsequent period is most marked at the school age.