View report page

68
DIPHTHERIA.—This disease was responsible for 891
notifications. After deducting the errors of diagnosis (15) of
cases sent to Hospital, we have a corrected total of 376 cases.
Of this number 256 or 65.4 per cent, were removed to Hospital.
The attack rate for the whole Borough equalled 2.84 per
1,000, compared with 2.32 for the County of London. The
highest attack rates in London were, City of London, 3.7,
St. Pancras 3.54, Hackney 3.24, and the lowest Kensington 1.04,
Paddington 1.52 and Hammersmith 1.58. (See Table 19).
Sub-dividing the cases over the Borough Wards, the
highest attack rate was in Brockley, 5.21 per 1,000 of its
residents, and the lowest Forest Hill, 0.93. (See Table 18). Of
the actual cases 44 proved fatal, equal to a case mortality of 11.8
per cent.
The disease was more prevalent in Lewisham than many
of the London Boroughs. The inspection which followed the
notification revealed many sanitary defects in the houses. These
were remedied.
A Street List appended to this report shows the localities
most affected. The 376 cases were distributed over 298 houses.
Personal investigation at many houses led me to believe that
several cases were due to the great ignorance displayed by many
parents. In several instances after the cases were notified, the
healthy members of a family were allowed to mix freely with
the patient awaiting removal to Hospital.
A spot map which may be seen in the office, shows that
the disease was prevalent not only in the poorer properties, but
in comparatively new houses. In the latter instances the dampness
of the house site possibly favoured the incursions of the
disease. The necessity of power to insist upon efficient landdrainage
before buildings are erected, is worthy of careful
consideration.