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
Bethnal Green 1928
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Bethnal Green Borough]
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55
NOTIFIABLE DISEASES, Etc.
Diphtheria.
There were 385 cases of diphtheria notified during
the year. The age grouping of the eases is given in
the accompanying table.
All the cases were removed to an isolation hospital
except 2. These cases were treated at home, proper
facilities being available for isolation and treatment.
Nine deaths from this disease occurred during the
year, equivalent to a case mortality of 2.3 per cent., or
general death rate of 0.07 per 1,000 of the population.
In view of the considerable discussion during recent years of the incidence and mortality of Diphtheria, in connection with proposals for the adoption of the Schick test and immunisation by means of toxin-anti-toxin, the following figures are given as to the experience of the Borough:—
| Notifications | Deaths | Death rate per 1,000 pop. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1917 | 340 | 19 | 0.17 |
| 1918 | 337 | 26 | 0.25 |
| 1919 | 552 | 58 | 0.53 |
| 1920 | 580 | 36 | 0.31 |
| 1921 | 565 | 34 | 0.28 |
| 1922 | 539 | 34 | 0.28 |
| 1923 | 489 | 20 | 0.17 |
| 1924 | 566 | 29 | 0.24 |
| 1925 | 493 | 19 | 0.16 |
| 1926 | 646 | 21 | 0.17 |
| 1927 | 476 | 16 | 0.13 |
| 1928 | 385 | 9 | 0.07 |
It should be noted that the figures headed
"Notifications" do not accurately represent the number
of cases, as no doubt they include a proportion of cases