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
Finsbury 1903
Report on the public health of 1903
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The following table shows the seasonal occurrence of the cases of Diphtheria notified to us:—
| Months. | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | April. | May. | June | July. | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Cases | 8 | 26 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 18 | 9 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 5 |
| Total | 38 | 37 | 29 | 15 | ||||||||
The cases of Diphtheria have been evenly distributed throughout
the Borough, the southern portion of northern Clerkenwell,
as last year, alone remaining free. In a general way it may be
said that most cases have occurred in the overcrowded and poorer
parts of the district. The incidence has not been exceptionally
heavy in the Model Dwellings, nor in relation to any milkshops.
Personal infection has been, without question, the main channel
for the spread of the disease. Not a few cases have apparently
arisen from contact with "ordinary sore-throats."
The following table illustrates the channels of infection and the sanitation of the houses in all those cases where infection could be at all traced, or the sanitation of the house was in any way open to criticism:—
| Houses, in which Diphtheria occurred, found to be damp | 2 | |
| Defective drains, sanitary conveniences, sinks, etc. | 24 | |
| Defective paving in yard | 2 | |
| Foul cistern | 3 | |
| Accumulation of refuse | 3 | |
| Total | 34 | |
| II.—Channels of Infection— | ||
| Previous cases in the same house or family | 13 | |
| Contact with Diphtheria in vicinity | 8 | |
| Following Scarlet Fever | 23 | |
| From School | 17 | |
| Previous cases of sore throat in family | 10 | |
| Hospital attendants | 2 | |
| 73 | ||