Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth District, The Board of Works (Clapham, Putney, Streatham, Tooting & Wandsworth)]
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110 Medical Officers of Health Annual Report.
The case mortality of the hospital treated cases was
12.8 per cent., while of the home treated cases this was
nearly 23 per cent.
There seems no reason to doubt that this great
difference in mortality is due to treatment by antitoxin,
which is much more extensively carried out in the hospitals
of the Asylums Board, than in private practice. It
is to be hoped that now the price of this serum has
been markedly reduced, all cases in private practice will
be immediately treated by means of antitoxin, and that
in consequence the mortality will in future years show
a decided decrease.
During the year 1898, 11,855 cases of Diphtheria
were notified in London, or 2.6 per 1,000 of population,
compared with 2.9 per 1,000 in 1897, and 3.1 in 1896,
while in this parish, the proportion notified per 1,000
of population was in 1898, 2.6, in 1897, 4.3, and in
1896, 1.7.
Membranous
Croup.
Only three cases of this were notified, and
no death occurred.
The total case mortality from Diphtheria and Membranous
Croup was 163 per cent, compared with 202
per cent. in 1897, and 13 per cent. in 1896.
•
For the whole of London the case mortality was
14.8 per cent. compared with 17 per cent. in 1897, and
19.2 per cent. in 1896.
51 cases were notified and six deaths resulted,
Enteric Fever.
compared with 37 cases notified and four
deaths in 1897. 27 cases were removed to hospital
where two died, and 24 cases were treated at home with
four deaths.