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
Hackney 1907
Report on the sanitary condition of the Hackney District for the year 1907
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34
Diphtheria and Membranous Croup.— The number of cases
of diphtheria and membranous croup notified during 1907 was 552;
of these 82 were found subsequently not to be cases of this disease,
thus reducing the genuine cases of diphtheritic disease to 470.
This is an increase of 134 upon the number of cases notified during
1906. The attack rate for the year is 2.0 per 1,000 persons living.
As may be seen by the chart, the incidence of the disease was
fairly low during the year until the end of September, from which
time to the end of the year it was more prevalent. The total
number of cases removed to hospital was 470. This amounts to
85 per cent. of the total notified.
The following shows the distribution of diphtheritic disease in the various sub-districts of the Borough during 1907 :—
| Sub-districts. | North. | Central. | South-West. | South-East. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of Cases of Diphtheria and Membranous Croup. | 109 | 173 | 133 | 137 |
| Total attack rate per 1000. | 20 | 31 | 21 | 2.2 |
From the above it is evident that diphtheritic disease was most
prevalent in the Central sub-district and least prevalent in the
North sub-district.
The deaths during the year from diphtheria and membranous
croup numbered 48. This is equivalent to a death-rate of 10 2 per
cent. of those attacked and .2 per 1,000 living persons. The
mortality rate from diphtheritic disease for all London is .16 per
1,000 living persons.
Daring the year 246 swabbings from the throats of persons
suspected to be suffering from diphtheria were bacteriologically
examined; of these examinations 81 gave positive and 158 negative,
and 7 doubtful results.