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50
DIPHTHERIA.
During 1899, 153 deaths were registered in Lambeth
from Diphtheria, as compared with 108 during 1898, and
an annual average of 124'7 for the last ten years (1889 to
1898).
1081 cases were notified during 1899, as compared with
813 in 1898, and an annual average of 5841 for the nine
years, 1890 to 1898.
Of the 1081 cases notified, 761 were removed to hospital
and 320 were treated at their homes. The case mortality
per cent, for the year is, therefore, 14 2, varying from 14 2
to 14T, according as the cases were treated at hospital or
at home respectively, a difference, in all probability, to be
explained, as usual, by the greater severity of the cases
sent to hospital, especially when it is remembered that the
antitoxin treatment in hospital is beginning to have a
favourable effect, by lowering the Diphtheria death-rate
amongst the patients treated there.
The case mortality rate, as a whole, for Lambeth is low,
pointing in part to the mildness of the majority of the
cases, more especially in Lambeth Church 1st and Norwood,
where the case mortality was 10 4 % and 9 4 % respectively.
In many instances outbreaks of mild throat trouble
were again noted, showing that in all probability, many
cases of unsuspected Diphtheria were the means of
spreading the disease. In the 216 cases that were submitted
to bacteriological examination, true diphtheria
bacilli were found in 46 8 °L .
The age and sex incidence and mortality from Diphtheria
cases notified in Lambeth during 1899 are as follow:—