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 1899
Report on the vital and sanitary statistics of the Parish of Lambeth during the year 1899
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In 115 (i.e. 53.2%) of the total number of throat samples examined the Klebs-Lœffler bacilli were not isolated, but other bacilli were as follow:—
| Streptococci | 30 i.e. 26.1% |
| Pseudo-bacilli | 4 i.e. 3.5% |
| Pseudo-bacilli + others | 45 i.e. 39.1% |
| Staphylococci | 11 i.e. 9.6% |
| Streptococci + Staphylococci | 10 e. 8.7% |
| Streptococci + Micrococci | 3 i.e. 2.6% |
| Staphylococci + Micrococci | 1 i.e. 0.9% |
| Micrococci | 5 i.e. 4.8% |
| Micrococci + Torulæ | 2 i.e. 1.7% |
| Streptococci + Torulæ + Micrococci | 1 i.e. 0.9% |
| Oidia + Streptococci 4+Staphylococci | 3 i.e. 2.6% |
The pseudo-bacilli (Hoffman)were found in pure cultivation
in four instances, but in only one case were pseudo-bacilli
and true diphtheria (Klebs-Lœffler) bacilli found together.
Pseudo-bacilli were found mixed with streptococci (16
samples), with staphylococci (4), with streptococci and
staphylococci (19), with streptococci and oïdia (3), with
staphylococci and oïdia (1), and with streptococci,
staphylococci and oïdia (2).
The pseudo-bacilli (Hoffman) are sometimes regarded as
a modified form of the Klebs-Lœffler bacilli, and if this be
so, the importance of isolating patients suffering with
pseudo-diphtheritic throats becomes apparent. The Lambeth
experience is that pseudo-throats are infectious, and in all
cases, therefore, the usual precautions have been taken
(viz., notification, isolation, disinfection, etc.), but as
Medical Officer I have not felt justified in recommending
removal to hospital, as I am not yet satisfied that it would