View report page

49
The subject of Diphtheria calls for special remark—the
persistent yearly increase of the disease in London
rendering it of the greatest importance that no stone
should be left unturned by a Metropolitan Sanitary Authority
in dealing with it. The statistics of Lambeth show that
this portion of the Metropolis is also sharing in the general
Diphtheria increase.
The knowledge of the etiology of the disease increases,
but pari passu with such increase, the means at the disposal
of a Sanitary Authority for combatting its extension appear,
unfortunately, to remain in statu quo. Mild and unrecognised
cases are to blame in part for this, and the
influence of schools is a factor that cannot be neglected in
this respect. The Vestry will have to decide as to the
advisability or otherwise of arranging for the systematic
bacteriological examination of suspected throats free of
charge. In this way medical practitioners would be enabled
to have samples of throat membranes, exudations, &c.,
examined for them, and the knowledge gained from such
examinations would be of great advantage in enabling
preventative measures to be at once taken.
It will be noted that during 1897 Lambeth Church 1st
District has suffered most from Diphtheria—the rate being
5.9 cases notified per 1,000 inhabitants, whilst the incidence
rate in Waterloo Road 1st was also high, viz., 4.5 per 1,000.
The Inner Wards suffered twice as much as the Outer in
respect of cases notified.