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
Deptford 1921
Annual report on the health of the Metropolitan Borough of Deptford
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26
INFECTIOUS AND OTHER DISEASES.
Under the provisions of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891,
and the Tuberculosis Regulations, 1873 cases of infectious diseases
were notified, as compared with 1,764 in 1920. This increase was due
due to an increased autumnal prevalence of scarlet fever and diphtheria.
In Table 4 (post) will be found a list of cases notified and their distribution
in the several Wards.
To the seven principal epidemic diseases, viz.:—Small-pox,
Measles, Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria, Whooping Cough, Enteric Fever
and Infantile Diarrhœa, 98 deaths were ascribed, and the death-rate
was 0.86 per 1,000 as against 0.74 in the preceding year. An annexed
table indicates the number of deaths and the death-rates from these
diseases during the past ten years.
| Material. | Total specimens examined | Number Positive. | Number Negative. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swabs for Diphtheria | 568 | 87 | 481 |
| Sputa for Tuberculosis | 52 | 8 | 44 |
| Blood for Enteric Fever | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| Samples from Ice Cream Shop (for Enteric Fever), comprising 1, Dust from room; 2, Cream; 3, Ice; 4, Copper contents; 5, Pan scrapings; and 6, Fasces | 6 | — | 6 |
| Films for Gonococcus | 4 | — | 4 |
| Blood for Wassermann Reaction | 22 | 2 | 20 |
| Totals | 657 | 99 | 558 |
In addition to the above, 859 specimens of sputa were examined at
the Council's Tuberculosis Dispensary.