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
Hackney 1919
Report on the sanitary condition of the Metropolitan Borough of Hackney for the year 1919
This page requires JavaScript
29
examined, of which 64 gave positive results, 334 negative results,
and 15 were returned as doubtful.
Diphtheria Anti-toxin.—In accordance with the Anti-toxin
Order of 1910, a supply of diphtheria anti-toxin was provided
during the year, and issued as required to medical practitioners
applying for it in cases of diphtheria or suspected cases of diphtheria
amongst the poorer inhabitants of the Borough. During the year
44 bottles of anti-toxin of 2,000 units each were supplied to medical
practitioners, most of which was used for prophylactic purposes.
Typhoid or Enteric Fever.—During the year under consideration,
23 cases of enteric fever were notified, but of these 1 was
subsequently found not to be suffering from this disease; thus,
the number of genuine cases was reduced to 22. This shows an
increase of 5 on the number of genuine cases notified during 1918.
The attack rate was 0.1 per 1,000 inhabitants.
Of the 22 cases notified, 15 were removed to hospital. This is
equal to 68 per cent. of the total notified.
The table below gives the distribution of the notified cases in the Sub-districts of the Borough:—
| Sub-districts. | North. | Central. | South-west. | South-east. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of cases of Typhoid Fever | 7 | 5 | 4 | 6 |
The deaths from enteric fever in the Borough last year
numbered 3. This is equal to a mortality rate of 13.6 per cent.
attacked and .01 per 1,000 inhabitants.
During 1919 specimens of blood from 24 persons suspected to
be suffering from enteric fever were submitted to Widal's test. Of
these, 2 gave a positive and 21 a negative reaction, and 1 was
returned as doubtful.