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
Paddington 1921
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington, Metropolitan Borough of]
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6 DIPHTHERIA.
V.—MORBIDITY: MORTALITY.
Table V. contains full information of the numbers of cases of infectious diseases which
have been notified to the Department since 1911.
Diphtheria*
General Prevalence.—Last year 445 cases were notified, including 3 of croup, being
19 less than the number (464, including 3 of croup) recorded in 1920, As in 1920, last
year's total included a fairly large proportion of cases of "bacteriological diphtheria," or
"carriers," in which the Klebs-Loffler bacillus was demonstrated, but the patients presented
no clinical signs of diphtheria. These cases will be referred to later in this Report.
(See Table V.)
The annual average for 1909-13 was 201 cases (including 3 of croup), and that for 1914-18,
252 (with 4 cases of croup). Taking the latter figure as the standard (=100), the Index
Number for last year was 175 as compared with 184 for 1920. The Index Numbers for the
quarters of the past year are shown below.
| Cases Reported | Index Numbers | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The great differences exhibited in the numbers for the first and last quarters of the year
are explained by the numbers of instances of "bacteriological diphtheria" which were reported.
Ward Distribution.—Table VII. shows the distribution of notified cases according to
Wards in each quarter of last year and contrasts those figures with the averages for the years
1916-20. The totals for the year were in excess of the respective averages, except in the case
of Lancaster Gate, West Ward (7 cases last year, average 8). The greatest increase above
the average was recorded in Westbourne Ward—total 1921, 107, average, 45.
Sex-Age Incidence.—In comparison with the annual average for 1914-18 the percentage of
males notified with diphtheria was lower in 1921, falling from 46 to 41. The percentage
was even lower, viz. 38, in 1919. The percentage distribution of cases, both sexes,
indicate a greater incidence at ages under and above school ages last year than in 1920.
(See below).
| 0- | 3-. | 5- | 13- | 15- | 25- | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
' Including, unless otherwise stated, cases notified as "membranous croup" and "diphtheritic croup."