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 1904
Report on the public health of Finsbury 1904 including annual report on factories and workshops
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The incidence of Diphtheria, since the Borough's formation, is shown in the following table:—
| No. of Cases per 10,000 of Population. | No. of Deaths per 10,000 of Population. | Case Mortality. No. of Deaths per 100 Cases notified. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1901 | 28.4 | 3.5 | 12.5 |
| 1902 | 21.1 | 3.6 | 17.1 |
| 1903 | 11.8 | 1.2 | 10.1 |
| 1904 | 12.4 | 1.4 | 11.4 |
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:—
I.—Insanitation-
Houses, in which Diphtheria occurred, found to be
damp or dirty 15
Defective drains, sanitary conveniences, sinks, etc. 18
Defective paving in yard and accumulation of
refuse in yard 9
Total 42
II.— Channels of Infection—
Previous cases in the same house or family 17
Personal contact with Diphtheria in vicinity 12
Following Scarlet Fever 1
From School 3
Hospital attendant 1
Total 34
There were nine small groups of cases of personal infection
among families or playmates.