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
Finsbury 1927
Annual report on the public health of Finsbury for the year 1927
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48
The largest number of deaths has occurred between 2 and 5
years, the next largest number between 5 and 15 years.
If we re-arrange these tables thus:-
| Year. | Total cases notified, 1920-1927 | Total deaths 1920-1927 | Case mortality per cent. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0—1 | 62 | 11 | 18 |
| 1—2 | 153 | 20 | 13 |
| 2—5 | 595 | 60 | 11 |
| 5—15 | 984 | 37 | 4 |
| 15—25 | 193 | 2 | 1 |
| 25—45 | 85 | – | – |
| 45—65 | 15 | – | – |
| 65+ | 1 | 1 | 100 |
| Totals | 2,088 | 131 | 6 |
It will be noted that, discarding the one case over 65 years, the
highest death rates amongst the patients affected are in babies
under one year, and the subsequent death rates show a diminution
as the children get older and are able to speak and draw intelligent
attention to the condition of the throat. For babies, of course,
this is impossible, and unless the diphtheria is suspected—for
example, by the baby showing signs of difficulty in swallowing,
recognised by a careful mother—the disease may advance unrecognised
until it is too late and end in death.
The prevalence of the disease per 1,000 population, the death
rates per 1,000 population, and the case mortality per 100 cases,