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 1919
Report on the sanitary condition of the Metropolitan Borough of Hackney for the year 1919
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modation during the last three months of the year for the same
reasons as stated regarding the removal of cases of scarlet fever,
but it is very gratifying to record that the Board provided accommodation
in nearly every instance of cases of a severe type when
application was made from the office. Where cases could not be
removed immediately the medical attendant was advised to
adminster the maximum dose of anti-toxin in accordance with the
recommendations contained in a memorandum circulated by the
Asylums Board during the time of pressure.
The attack rate for diphtheria was 3.08 per 1,000 inhabitants.
There were 630 cases removed to hospital during the year.
This is equal to 94 per cent. of the cases notified.
The following table shows the distribution of diphtheria in the respective Sub-districts of the Borough :—
| Sub-districts. | North. | Central. | South-west. | South-east. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of cases of Diphtheria and Membranous Croup | 87 | 200 | 162 | 220 |
| Attack-rate per 1,000 living | 1.0 | 3.7 | 2.9 | 4.1 |
From the above it will be seen that diphtheritic disease was
more acute in the Central and South-Eastern Sub-districts of the
Borough than in the Northern and South-Western Sub-districts.
The deaths from diphtheria and membranous croup during
the year numbered 91. This mortality is equal to a death-rate of
13.6 per cent. attacked and 0.42 per 1,000 inhabitants.
The death rate from diphtheria for London during the same
period is 0.18 per 1,000 inhabitants.
During the year 413 swabbings from throats of persons
suspected to be suffering from diphtheria were bacteriologically