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
London County Council 1935
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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These four groups may be classified in order of proportionate presence of of diphtheria bacilli as follows:—
| Group. | Number. | Diphtheria bacilli present in | Percentage positive | Percentage virulent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Diphtheria
" carrier "
clinics.
With these results may be compared those obtained in the residential schools
and children's homes, recorded elsewhere : 15.4 per cent. positive and 13.1 per cent.
virulent.
In 70 re.examinations (at varying intervals) of children previously swabbed
(the majority positive at the first swabbing) 27 (or 38.5 per cent.) were still found
to show the presence of diphtheria bacilli, and 43 proved negative.
On arrival 11 cases were found to be positive and 12 negative. The following is an analysis of these cases:—
Table 26.
| Result. | Positive on arrival. (8 operations.) | Negative on arrival. | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | |||
Dr. H. G. Close has furnished the following statement regarding the work carried
out at the special clinic at Guy's hospital:—
Number of new patients treated 34
Ages—Under 5 years 5
Between 5 and 14 years 24
Over 14 years 5
Sex—Male 17
Female 17
The arrangements made with three voluntary hospitals, viz., London, Guy's,
and St. Mary's, Paddington, for the treatment of diphtheria carriers at special outpatient
clinics, were continued during 1935.
Reports have been furnished by the medical officers in charge of these clinics.
In this connection it may be noted that the cases referred to the clinics through
the school medical service are those in which virulence has been established as a
result of biological tests, and that efforts have been made to limit the cases referred
for treatment to those who might be regarded as persistent " carriers."
The clinic at the London hospital is under the care of Mr. Francis Muecke, who
has submitted the following summarv of cases for 1935:—