Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for East Ham]
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DIPHTHERIA.
Manor Park Ward | Plashet Ward. | Central Ward. | Beckton & North Woolw'h Ward. | Totals. | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1896 | 1897 | 1896 | 1897 | 1896 | 1897 | 1896 | 1897 | 1896 | 1897 | |
January | 7 | .. | 3 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 12 |
February | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 14 |
March | 3 | .. | 11 | 6 | 8 | 2 | .. | 1 | 22 | 9 |
April | 3 | .. | 4 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 5 | .. | 18 | 3 |
May | .. | 1 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 4 | .. | .. | 8 | 9 |
June | 1 | .. | 2 | 3 | 10 | 8 | 1 | .. | 14 | 11 |
July | .. | 4 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 6 | .. | 3 | 8 | 15 |
August | 1 | 1 | 3 | 19 | 3 | 5 | 1 | .. | 8 | 25 |
September | 3 | 8 | 3 | 10 | 5 | .. | 1 | 1 | 12 | 19 |
October | 1 | 1 | 6 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 1 | .. | 12 | 17 |
November | 1 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 9 | .. | 24 | 17 |
December | .. | .. | 22 | 12 | .. | 6 | .. | 3 | 22 | 21 |
Totals | 21 | 19 | 74 | 102 | 56 | 40 | 21 | 11 | 172 | 172 |
There were 175 cases of Diphtheria (including three cases
of Croup) recorded in 1897, resulting in 31 deaths. Twentythree
of these deaths were under five years of age and eight
over five years, as against 176 recorded for the year 1896,
which resulted in 28 deaths.
It always occurs in its greatest severity among children
during the first five years of life. In a great many instances,
when one case occurs in a family, several, and often all, the
members in the household are attacked respectively. I still
consider that milk, water and food, in many cases, have not
been wrongly suspected as the cause of contagion, although in
some instances defective drainage has been contributory to the
spread of Diphtheria.
An arrangement was made in September with the West
Ham Corporation to admit cases of Diphtheria into the