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

Greenwich 1902

The annual report made to the Council of the Metropolitan Borough of Greenwich for the year 1902

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Diphtheria. —There were 178 cases of Diphtheria: 86 being in
East Greenwich, 58 in West Greenwich, 9 in St. Nicholas, 16 in
Charlton, and 9 in Kidbrooke. Of this total number, 142 were
removed to the Hospital for treatment. There were 16 fatalities
due to this disease, which gives a case mortality of 9 per cent.
The facilities afforded to Medical Practitioners for the
bacteriological examination of specimens from suspected cases of
Diphtheria have been freely used. Specimens having been forwarded
for examination, of which 15 gave positive results, ami 45 gave
negative results.
The value of this species of investigation was practically
manifested in the following case, which is only a sample of other
similar occurrences.
A child, aged six years, was taken ill with sore throat on
Sunday; on the Monday a medical man was called in; on
Tuesday the child was much better, but the medical attendant,
being in some doubt as to the nature of the ailment, took a
specimen from the child's throat and sent it up for bacteriological
examination. The answer was to the effect that the specific
bacillus of diphtheria was present.
The child, however, now appeared to be quite well, and the
parents were very doubtful as to the accuracy of this report, so
that a further specimen was sent for examination. On the
following day again a positive reply was received.
The medical attendant saw me in reference to the case, and
as there had been not only one but two positive results obtained,
we thought that there was no doubt that the disease was diphtheria.
The child was, however, seemingly, quite well, and anxious to be
running about again all over the premises as children do.
In the house, however, a business was carried on which
necessitated not only several young persons being present, but
also frequent calls being made by the general public and accord-

Table: Table shewing Return Cases of Scarlet Fever for the Year, from Dec. 31st, 1901, to January 3rd, 1903.

Table shewing Return Cases of Scarlet Fever for the Year, from Dec. 31st, 1901, to January 3rd, 1903.

No.Date of Removal of Primary Case.Date of Disinfection of same.Date of Discharge from Hospital.Date of Removal of Second Cases.Time between Cases.Remarks.
129th Oct., 190130th Oct, 190113th Jan., 190220th Jan., 19027 daysChildren slept together. Sore nose and cold.
23rd Nov., „4th Nov., „31st Dec., 190122nd „ „22 „Ditto.
3*6th Dec., „ (Dipth.)6th Dec., „21st Jan., 190228th „ „7 „*Admitted Diphtheria. Slept together.
47th Dec., „9th „ „5th Feb., „11th Feb., „6 „Slept together.
513th Jan., 190214th Jan., 190227th „5th March, „7 „Ditto.
611th Feb., „12th Feb., „27th March, „7th April, „11 „Ditto.
711th „ „12th „ „27th „ „10th „ „14 „Ditto.
8......23rd May, „5th June, „13 „Government property. K.N. School.
929th May, „31st May, „14th July, „5th Aug., „31 „Played and slept together.
1024th June, „25th June, „12th Aug., „19th „ „7 „Apparently well.
11(Unknown)...25th „ „1st Sept., „7 „Slept together.
1223rd June, „24th June, „4th Sept., „8th „ „4 „Cold in head.
13Woolwich case...30th Aug., „8th „ „8 „Sore nose. Slept together.
1414th July, 190215th July, „15th Oct., „13th Nov , „29 „Slept together.
1522nd Sept., „23rd Sept., „7th Nov., „14th „ „7 „Sore on face.
1622nd „ „23rd „ „7th „ „17th „ „10 „Ditto.
1722nd „ „23rd „ „7th „ „19th „12 „Ditto.
187th Oct., „8th Oct., „28th Nov., „10th Dec., „12 „Sore nose. Cold.
197th „ „8th „ „28th „ „13th „15 „Ditto.
2012th „13th „ „2nd Dec., „22nd „20 „Cold in head.
2112th „ „13th „ „16th „ „21st „ „5 „Slept together.
2224th „ „25th „ „20th „ „26th „ „6 „Apparently well. Slept together.
23Hospital Schools Case...31st „ „5th Jan., 19035 „No remarks.
2426 th Oct., 190227th Oct., „23rd „ „3rd „ „11 „ „Apparently well.