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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The age and sex incidence and mortality from Diphtheria cases notified in Lambeth during 1898 are as follows:—
| Ages. | Number of cases Notified. | Deaths. | Death -Rate per ioo. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M. | F. | Total. | M. | F. | Total. | ||
| Under 1 year | 4 | 6 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 40-0 |
| 1 to 5 | 143 | 265 | 29 | 57 | |||
| 5 to 10 | 141 | 164 | 305 | 17 | 38 | ||
| 10 to 20 | 48 | 67 | 115 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 50 |
| 20 to 40 | 43 | 69 | 1 | ... | 1 | 1.4 | |
| 40 to 60 | 5 | 5 | 10 | ... | ... | ... | ... |
| 60 and over | 1 | 1 | ... | ... | ... | ... | |
| Age not stated | 23 | 14 | 37 | ... | ... | ... | |
| Total | 391 | 422 | 813 | 52 | 56 | 108 | 13.3 |
The steady yearly increase in Diphtheria in Lambeth
(as in London generally) is again noticeable during 1898,
but still difficult to explain satisfactorily. Undoubtedly
mild and unrecognized cases have been again to blame,
as also the mixing together of children in schools. It is
satisfactory to be able to report that the Vestry has
decided (and has already made the necessary arrangements)
to supply the medical practitioners who practice
in Lambeth with means for the bacteriological examination,
free of cost, of all membranes and discharges from
doubtful Diphtheria cases, so that more efficient isolation
may be carried out in those patients who are proved to
be suffering from true (but mild) Diphtheria. The good
that will arise will depend upon the use that the medical
profession make of the means of bacteriological diagnosis
offered to them, free of cost, by the Vestry.
The following statistics for Lambeth show that the
increase in Diphtheria is persistent:—