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
Islington 1913
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington, Metropolitan Borough of]
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1913] 128
DIPHTHERIA.
Under the heading of Diphtheria is also included Membranous Croup,
and together they caused 550 cases, which is 34 more than were notified in the
preceding year. They also compare with a decennial average of 458, so that
they were 92 in excess of it.
The cases represent an attack rate of 1.65 per thousand of the inhabitants,
which is exactly the rate of the County of London. It is, however, 0.26 above
the mean rate of the Borough during the years 1903-12.
In the subsequent statement particulars are given as to the behaviour of the disease in England and Wales, in the County of London and in the County Boroughs of England during the year.
| Cases. | Attack-rate. | |
|---|---|---|
| England and Wales | 130,626 | 1.39 |
| London | 7,654 | 1.65 |
| 78 English County Boroughs | 17,263 | 1.49 |
| St. Pancras | 438 | 2.01 |
| Stoke Newington | 84 | 1.63 |
| Hackney | 331 | 1.45 |
| Hornsey | 117 | 1.31 |
| Finsbury | 107 | 1.24 |
| Shoreditch | 185 | 1.66 |
| The Encircling Boroughs | 1,262 | 1.61 |
Hospital Isolation.—512 of the notified cases, or 931 per cent., were
removed to hospital for treatment and isolation, and of these, 403 were treated
in the Institutions of the Metropolitan Asylums Board.
Fatality.—The 37 deaths were equal to a fatality rate of 6.7 per cent.,
which is 1.8 below the mean fatality of the preceding ten years.
It is gratifying to note that the fatality from diphtherial continues to
decrease. This subject has been dealt with fully in previous reports.