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
Lambeth 1898
Report on the vital and sanitary statistics of the Parish of Lambeth during the year 1898
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Report on BACTERIOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS
in INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
(Adopted by the Vestry, December 8th, 1898.)
Taking the local Reports for Lambeth during the last 35 years, and expressing the Diphtheria rate as deaths per million living, we find as follows (sub-dividing into quinquennia):—
| Quinquennial Period. | Population. | Number of Deaths. | Death-rate per Million living. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1863-1867 | 902,119 | 148 | 164 |
| 1868-1872 | 1,021,165 | 96 | 94 |
| 1873-1877 | 1,132,106 | 184 | 163 |
| 1878-1882 | 1,245,913 | 255 | 205 |
| 1883-1887 | 1,313,211 | 365 | 278 |
| 1888-1892 | 1,367,734 | 537 | 393 |
| 1893-1897 | 1,443,857 | 683 | 483 |
London, too, as a whole, shows a similar and practically
pro rata increase in Diphtheria. During last year, 1897,
the London rate per million living was 500, as compared
with an average 595 during the five years 1893-1897, 356
during 1888-1892, 228 during 1883-1887, 166 during 18781882,
and 116 during 1873-1877.
The above statistics prove that there has been during
recent years a steady and persistent increase of Diphtheria
in Lambeth, as well as in London generally, and in the
opinion of those best able to judge, this increase is due in
part to the mild and unrecognised cases that occur, and
which, owing to them not being properly and efficiently
insolated, give rise to the spread of the disease to others;
more especially is this true of schools (Board, Private, and
Sunday), and crowded assemblages of children, who are
most prone to develop Diphtheria.
The Vestry, as the Sanitary Authority, ought to leave no
stone unturned in dealing with this Disease, and preventing.