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cases of mistaken diagnoses, that is to say instances where the notification
certificate under the hand of the medical attendant was
found, upon further investigation at the hospital, to be incorrect,
were as follows :—
Small Pox 35
Diphtheria 25
Scarlatina 27
Enteric Fever 12
Total 99
This figure indicates a proportion of error equal to 7.2 per cent, on
the total admissions to hospital during the year. It compares
favourably with that of other districts, as will be observed by an
inspection of the return on the next page.
Metropolitan Asylums Board.
London, E C.,
Dear Sir,
5th February, 1903.
Hospitals Department—Cases of Mistaken Diagnosis
In connection with the subject of hospital provision for infectious
diseases, I am directed by the Hospitals Committee of this Board to advert to
the statistical reports issued annually (a copy of which is sent to each Medical
Officer of Health of the Metropolis), and in particular to the figures set out in
the tables concerning cases of miscellaneous disease admitted into the Board's
hospitals.
The Committee have caused this information to be collated for three years,
and X have been requested by them to transmit to you the accompanying summary
of these cases, with a view to the assistance of the Medical Officers of
Health being secured to prevent, so far as circumstances may make it practicable,
the introduction into this Board's hospitals of cases of " other diseases "
than those which such hospitals are designed to treat.
Yours truly,
T. DUNCOMBE MANN,
The Medical Officer of Health, Clerk to the Board
Bethnal Green.