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106
1905]
DIPHTHERIA.
Diphtheria, inclusive of Membranous Croup, caused 351 notifications to
be made, as against an average of 700 during the preceding 10 years, so that
there was a decrease of 349. This, coming on the low records of 1903, when
458 were notified, and of 1904, when 347 were reported, is extremely satisfactory,
for it shows that the disease is by no means as prevalent as it was a
few years ago.
The present return is the lowest with one exception hitherto recorded,
and is only 4 above that of 1904.
The attack-rate was equal to 1.02 per 1,000 of the inhabitants and is
nearly 1.02 per 1,000 of the mean rate of the preceding 10 years. In the
County of London the rate was 1.37 per 1,000 and in the Encircling
Boroughs 1.34 per 1,000, from which it is seen that the Islington record is
very good.
Hospital Isolation.—Out of 351 cases notified, 281, or 80 per cent.,
were isolated in hospital for treatment, and of these 26 or 9.2 died.
Fatality.—34 cases died, so that the fatality was 97 per cent. The
percentage fatality of the cases treated in hospital was 9.2 as against 11.4
that were nursed at home.
In table LXXXIII. the cases and deaths at each year of life up to 15 are
given and from that age in periods of 10 years. There it will be seen that the
greatest number of cases and deaths occurred amongst children under 8 years
old, beyond which period of life the disease is comparatively harmless, only
1 death being registered amongst 116 persons attacked.