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
Stoke Newington 1916
Report of the Medical Officer of Health and Public Analyst for the 1916
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The 109 cases of Diphtheria occurred in 83 houses, 9 of which were more or less insanitary. The sanitary defects were grave in 1 instance, and slight in 8.
| Year. | Death-Rate for Stoke Newington. | Rate for London generally. | Rate for England and Wales. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1901 | 0.27 | 0.30 | 0.27 |
| 1902 | 0.09 | 0.25 | 0.23 |
| 1903 | 0.13 | 0.16 | 0.18 |
| 1904 | 0.19 | 0.16 | 0.17 |
| 1905 | 0.09 | 0.12 | 0.16 |
| 1906 | 0.08 | 0.14 | 0.17 |
| 1907 | 0.11 | 0.16 | 0.16 |
| 1908 | 0.02 | 0.15 | 0.16 |
| 1909 | 0.02 | 0.13 | 0.14 |
| 1910 | 0.04 | 0.09 | 0.12 |
| 1911 | 0.06 | 0.13 | 0.13 |
| 1912 | 0.00 | 0.10 | 0.11 |
| 1913 | 0.12 | 0.09 | 0.12 |
| 1914 | 0.06 | 0.16 | 0.15 |
| 1915 | 0.20 | 0.16 | 0.15 |
| 1916 | 0.12 | 0.14 | 0.14 |
School attendance was alleged by the parents to be the cause
of attack during the year in 8 instances.
One child appears to have caught the infection from a previous
case in the same household. In 3 cases it was very clear
that a preceding Tonsilitis, or operation on the tonsils, predisposed
to an attack of Diphtheria. It is of further interest to record
the great number of instances in which we were informed by the
parent that the children had adenoids, or histories of "weak throats,"
with frequently recurring attacks of Tonsilitis; and the very mild
nature of many of the atacks.
Many applications have been made at the offices for tubes of
"antitoxin," which I store for the convenience of local practitioners.
The "diagnosis outfits" supplied by the Council to the medical
practitioners in Stoke Newington are of great service.
Every practitioner has been kept provided during the year
with such an outfit, and has thus had at his disposal the means of
procuring a bacteriological diagnosis of Diphtheria, Enteric Fever,
and Consumption.