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
Islington 1903
Forty-eighth annual report on the health and sanitary condition of the Borough of Islington
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59
[1908
DIPHTHERIA.
The deaths referred to Diphtheria were only 43 in number or 93 less than
the corrected average of 136 that obtained during the years 1885-1902. Of
these deaths 21 were males and 22 females. This is a lower return than any during
the last eighteen years. These deaths were equal to a death-rate of 0.13 per
1,000, which is 0.27 per 1,000 less than the average rate for the years now
mentioned. Its heaviest incidence was felt in Lower Holloway, where the
death-rate was 034 per 1,000 of the population.
Of the 43 deaths at all ages from Diphtheria, 26, or 60.5 per cent., were
under five years of age, and were equal to a death-rate of 0.71 among children
living at that age.
It is of happy augury that the fatality, by which is meant the percentage proportion which the deaths bear to the notified cases, has steadily decreased since 1899. This is seen in the following statement:—
| Years. | Cases. | Attack Rates. | Deaths. | Death Rates. | Fatality Deaths per 100 Cases. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1893 | 885 | 2.70 | 200 | 0.61 | |
| 1894 | 867 | 218 | 25.1 | ||
| 1895 | 582 | 1.74 | 144 | ||
| 1896 | 1091 | 0.76 | |||
| 1897 | 729 | 2.17 | 131 | 0.39 | 18.0 |
| 1898 | 1.62 | 0.27 | 17.1 | ||
| 1899 | 705 | 2.1O | 128 | 0.38 | 18.2 |
| 1900 | 633 | 106 | 0.32 | 16.7 | |
| 1901 | 911 | 2.72 | 0.40 | 14.7 | |
| 1902 | 878 | 104 | 0.30 | 11.8 | |
| Corrected Mean | 792 | 153 | |||
| Decrease | 1'00 | 110 | 0.32 | 9.9 |
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