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
Walthamstow 1930
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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62
The ominous feature of the above table is the steadily increasing
incidence of this serious disease, and especially the increase in the
two age groups, 1 to 5 and 5 to 15.
The death-rates per 100 cases notified show that although there
were more deaths than during 1929, the rate was actually 1 per cent.
lower. The death-rate per 1,000 population was 0.16, which compares
with a maximum figure of 0.20 amongst the "outer ring"
towns.
In spite of the increased incidence 85.7 per cent. of cases notified
were removed to Hospital as compared with the previous maximum
figure of 89.3 per cent. in 1926.
In order to secure sufficient beds one of the wards at your Isolation Hospital usually used for Scarlet Fever patients was allocated to Diphtheria cases between September 18th and November 26th, when notifications reached their maximum, as shown by the following monthly incidence:—
| Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | Apr. | May | June | July | Aug. | Sep. | Oct. | Nov | Dec. | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. James' Street | 9 | 9 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 13 | 5 | 20 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 118 |
| High Street | 17 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 93 |
| Hoe Street | 5 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 11 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 8 | 18 | 89 |
| Wood Street | 5 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 10 | 50 |
| Hale End | — | 4 | 4 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 12 | 3 | 9 | 60 |
| Higham Hill | 13 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 5 | 10 | 6 | 13 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 99 |
| Totals | 49 | 27 | 41 | 36 | 34 | 28 | 41 | 27 | 73 | 56 | 37 | 60 | 509 |
Selwyn Avenue Infants' School yielded six cases in September and
nine in October. Repeated visits were paid by your Medical Officer
of Health. All the children were examined on several occasions and
all suspicious throats and noses were swabbed.
Six cases occurred in Apsley Road in September, but no connection
could be found except that of "Street" contact.
A total of 13 cases occurred during the year at Forest Hall—a
voluntarily provided Children's Home—the incidence being March 1,
April 6, May 3, October 2, and November 1.
No use was made of the Dick test for Diphtheria susceptibility and
no immunisation method was used. There can be no question that
the only way to control the increase in Diphtheria incidence with the
resultant loss of life is by providing immunisation for all children
whose parents are sufficiently enlightened to seek the protection
afforded thereby.