London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Battersea 1923
Report on the health of the Metropolitan Borough of Battersea for the year 1923
This page requires JavaScript
37
In 22 of the cases notified (not included in the above total),
the diagnosis was not confirmed at hospital.
Diphtheria.
The number of cases of diphtheria notified during 1923 was
374, as compared with 670 in 1922, 713 in 1921, 530 in 1920, and 229
in 1919.
The number of deaths registered from the disease was 34,
giving a death-rate of 0·20, as compared with 58 deaths and a
death-rate of 0·34 in 1922, and 63 deaths and a death-rate of 0·37
in 1921.
The following table shows — Incidence and Mortality during 1923 compared with 1922 in Wards and Sub-Districts.
| Ward | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | E | N | S | Boro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1923—Cases | 53 | 84 | 49 | 37 | 50 | 59 | 14 | 17 | 11 | 188 | 139 | 47 | 374 |
| Deaths | 4 | 8 | 8 | 2 | — | 8 | 2 | 2 | — | 17 | 13 | 4 | 34 |
| Incidence per 1,000 populatn. | 1·9 | 4·6 | 2·5 | 2·4 | 2·7 | 2·8 | 1·6 | 0·9 | 0·5 | 2·7 | 2·9 | ·9 | 2·19 |
| Deaths per 1,000 population | •15 | •44 | ·41 | •13 | - | •38 | •23 | •10 | - | •24 | •27 | •08 | •20 |
| Deaths per 100 cases | 7·5 | 9·5 | 16·3 | 5·4 | — | 13·6 | 14·3 | 11·8 | — | 9·0 | 9·4 | 8·5 | 9·1 |
| 1922—Cases | 93 | 99 | 117 | 88 | 85 | 75 | 20 | 44 | 49 | 313 | 223 | 134 | 670 |
| Deaths | 6 | 11 | 14 | 4 | 7 | 9 | — | 4 | 3 | 27 | 23 | 8 | 58 |
| Incidence per 1,000 populatn. | 3·4 | 5·4 | 6·1 | 5·7 | 4·6 | 3·6 | 2·3 | 2·3 | 2·3 | 4·5 | 4·6 | 2·6 | 3·96 |
| Deaths per 1,000 population | •22 | •60 | ·73 | •26 | •38 | •43 | - | •21 | •14 | ·38 | •48 | •16 | •34 |
| Deaths per 100 cases | 6·5 | 11·1 | 12·0 | 4·5 | 8·2 | 12·0 | — | 9·1 | 6·1 | 8·6 | 10·3 | 6·0 | 8·7 |
The case-rate per 1,000 population was 2·19 in 1923, as compared
with 3·96 in 1922, 4·21 in 1921, and 3·20 in 1920. The
case-mortality in 1923 was 9·1 per cent. as compared with 8·7 in
1922. The average case-mortality per cent. for the ten years 1913—
1922 was 8·24.
The 374 cases of diphtheria occurred in 308 infected houses,
366 cases (i.e. 97·9 per cent.) were removed to hospital.
The incidence of the disease was highest in Park, Winstanley
and Church Wards, these 3 Wards contributing 51·6 per cent. of the
total cases notified.
In 53 cases notified (not included in above total) the diagnosis of
diphtheria was not confirmed.