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
Ilford 1913
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Ilford]
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Table Showing Ages and Sex of Patients Admitted Suffering from DIPHTHERIA.
| Month. | Under 5 years | 5 to 10 years | 10 to 15 years | 15 to 25 years | Over 25 years | Totals | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M | F | M | f | M | F | M | f | M | f | M | f | |
| January | 2 | 1 | 3 | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 6 | |
| February | 1 | - | 1 | 4 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | 4 |
| March | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| April | - | - | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 3 | 2 |
| May | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | 1 | - | - | - | 1 | 2 |
| June | - | 1 | 3 | 1 | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | 4 | 2 |
| July | - | - | 2 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 4 | 8 |
| August | 3 | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | 1 | - | 1 | 4 | 3 |
| September | - | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| October | - | 1 | 2 | 2 | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 4 |
| November | 1 | - | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | - | - | - | 1 | 6 | 6 |
| December | - | 3 | 5 | 5 | 2 | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 8 | 9 |
| Totals | 5 | 7 | 20 | 28 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 36 | 48 |
BACTERIOLOGICAL LABORATORY.
During the year 1,021 specimens were examined. In
last year's report a detailed description was given of the
laboratory and the methods employed in examining specimens.
Work was continued throughout the year on similar
lines. The convenience of having a laboratory close at hand
is very great. In sending specimens to another laboratory
much time is lost in transmission, a matter of importance in
Diphtheria, where successful treatment so greatly depends on
early diagnosis. In the absence of the Assistant Medical
Officer of Health, or from other cause, specimens were sent
to a private bacteriologist at a cost of 2s. 6d. per specimen.
DIPHTHERIA.
Direct examination of Swabs was in many cases successful
in making the diagnosis. This method is not absolutely