London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Surbiton 1895

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Surbiton]

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6
who might apply for it, and for information as to its use,
as supplied by Doctor Armand Ruffer, and also for
bacteriological examinations. I am pleased to be able to
state that in several of the cases these privileges were
utilised. Specimens from doubtful cases were submitted
to bacteriological examination, and if the cultivation
revealed a bacillus anti-toxin was resorted to. It is within
my personal knowledge that some very severe cases were
thus treated, and in every one improvements speedily
set in. The general medical opinion, both home and
continental, I believe I am correct in stating, seems
shaping itself towards accepting this combined treatment
as a distinct advance on all other methods, and as the
mode of and dose for administration becomes more
accurately formulated, it will probably be that no bacteriologically
confirmed cases will be allowed to go from bad
to worse without being afforded the benefits of such
treatment. In the majority of cases no sanitary defects
whatever were to be found. In one instance, however, the
house drains were all being re-laid, and a young girl who
had been living in the house was taken ill at that time.

The following table records some facts in connection with the diphtheria cases of this and former years.

Houses Invaded.Cases.Deaths.Average Age per case.Case Mortality, per cent.
18903136*319.58.3
18911621109.847.6
18921416118.16.2
18981923318.713.0
18941320317.315.0
18951212113.58.3

*27 of these cases were due to an infected milk supply.