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
Shoreditch 1911
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch]
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0.16 in 1904, 0.18 in 1903, 0.18 in 1902, 0.23 in 1901, 0.45 in 1900, and 0.52 in 1899.
The diphtheria death-rates in the wards of the Borough are contained in Table VI.
(Appendix).
The rate was highest in Moorfields and lowest in Whitmore Ward, being 0.39
per 1,000 for the former and only 0.06 for the latter.
The case mortality was 12.7 per cent, of the cases certified, as compared with
11.0 in 1910, 11.5 in 1909, 6.4 in 1908, 9.5 in 1907, 10.5 in 1906, 15.2 in 1905, and
10.3 in 1904. The case mortalities for previous years are contained in the report for
1906.
Of the deaths from diphtheria during 1911, 19 were of children under five
years of age, the mortality being at the rate of 20.6 per cent, of the cases certified
amongst children at that age period (21.8 per cent, allowing for errors of diagnosis)
as compared with 17.2 in 1910, 15.7 in 1909, 9.5 in 1908, 15.6 in 1907, 16 in 1906,
14.7 in 1905, 16.3 in 1904, 23.8 in 1903, 20.5 in 1902, 15.4 in 1901, 22.7 in 1900,
34.2 in 1899, 29.5 in 1898, 36.0 in 1897, 31.8 in 1896, 47.5 in 1895, 43.0 in 1894,
and 61.0 in 1893. There were three deaths of children aged from five to ten years.
The mortality amongst persons over five years of age was at the rate of 3.8 per
cent, of the cases certified, or allowing for errors in diagnosis 4.4 per cent.
The usual enquiries were made as to the circumstances attending the occurrence of diphtheria in the Borough. With respect to 137 of the cases certified during the year, they were distributed amongst males and females at certain age periods as set out in the subjoined table:—
| Age Period. | Male. | Female. | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1 year | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| From 1 to 2 years | 8 | 4 | 12 |
| „ 2 „ | 12 | 12 | 24 |
| „ 3 „ 4 „ | 7 | 7 | 14 |
| 4 „ 5 „ | 6 | 13 | 19 |
| 5 „ 10 „ | 16 | 16 | 32 |
| „ 10 „13 „ | 3 | 8 | |
| Over 13 years | 6 | 16 | 22 |
| Totals | 61 | 76 | 137 |
In 51 of the cases the patients were children attending school, and in 44 of these
they were at school within a week of being certified as having the disease. As noted
in previous years, there were instances in which the children were at school whilst
suffering from diphtheria, before the nature of their illness was recognised. In