View report page

116
HACKNEY BOROUGH COUNCIL.
PREVENTION OF DIPHTHERIA AND
MEMBRANOUS CROUP.
Diphtheria is an extremely dangerous infectious disease,
attacking mostly children between the ages of two and fifteen years,
and girls more than boys. Adults are also frequently affected.
The disease is most prevalent in the autumn months, but cases
occur in London all the year through. In the year 1903 there were
518 cases in Hackney, with 48 deaths, giving a death rate of over 9
per cent. From these figures it may be seen how very serious this
disease is. Yet it is to a great extent preventable. Diphtheria is
one of those diseases caused by the presence and action of a
microbe in the body of those suffering from the disease. The
microbe attacks chiefly the throat and the lining membrane of the
passages leading from it, such as the nose and windpipe. The
action of the microbe is to form a greyish white skin over the
surface it attacks, but at the same time a very powerful poison is produced
which is absorbed into the system; and it is the absorption of
this poison that gives rise to the constitutional or general symptoms.
The greatest number of deaths occurs between the ages of two years
and five years, so that the later in life the disease is caught the
more likely recovery will follow. The disease is also more likely to
attack children with enlarged tonsils or an unhealthy condition of
the throat and mouth. The disease spreads from person to person,
i.e., from one suffering or recovering from the disease, or from persons
who have apparently only had a simple tonsilitis, or sore throat, or
discharge from the nose (in reality these latter have been mild and
unrecognised cases of diphtheria). Certain domestic animals (cats,
Note.—Membranous croup is a variety of diphtheria, being diphtheria of
the upper part of the windpipe.