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
Barking 1931
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Barking]
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| Scarlet Fever. | Diphtheria. | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|
45. NOTIFIABLE INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
(a) Diphtheria.—241 cases were notified, compared with 35S the preceding year.
Of cases notified, 240 were removed and treated in the local isolation hospital.
7 deaths from diphtheria occurred. The average stay of diphtheria in hospital was
45.2 days, the longest stay being 128 days.
Sex.—122 cases were male and 119 female.
The death rate from diphtheria has shown a decline over the last thirty years.
A quarter of a century ago the death rate from diphtheria over an average of
four years was 0.335 per 1,000 population; at the present time, over an average
of five years, it is only 0.114.
There were 7 deaths out of a total number of 241 cases, making a percentage
death rate of 2.9.
Anti-toxin is readily available for all cases. This is kept at the Fire Station
and may be obtained at the hospital, but in most cases patients requiring anti-toxin
are removed to hospital.