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
Poplar 1921
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Poplar, Metropolitan Borough]
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64
Bacteriological Examinations.
600 swabbings from throats of doubtful eases of diphtheria were
forwarded for bacteriological examination to the Lister Institute of
Preventive Medicine. The bacillus diphtheriæ was isolated in 146
instances (24'3 per cent.).
Errors in Diagnosis.
Seventy-two cases of diphtheria admitted into Metropolitan
Asylums Board's hospitals were certified as not having the complaint,
19 Poplar, 24 Bromley and 29 Bow.
No deductions have beer made in respect of these patients.
Isolation. 193 cases in Poplar, 267 in Bromley, and 166 in Bow were removed to various hospitals for treatment, as follows:—
| Poplar | Bromley. | Bow. | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Asylums Board's Hospitals | 191 | 259 | 159 | 609 |
| St Andrew's Hospital | 1 | 7 | 6 | 14 |
| Poplar Hospital | — | 1 | — | 1 |
| London Hospital | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| St. Bartholomew's | 1 | — | — | 1 |
| 193 | 267 | 166 | 626 |
The Diphtheria Anti-Toxin (London) Order, 1910.
Forty thousand units of diphtheria anti-toxin were supplied to
medical practitioners during the year.
WHOOPING COUGH. Deaths.
| Poplar. | Bromley. | Bow. | Borough of Poplar. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1917 | 4 | 24 | 3 | 31 |
| 1918 | 35 | 14 | 12 | 61 |
| 1919 | 12 | 12 | — | 24 |
| 1920 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 50 |
| 1921 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 29 |