View report page

73
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
Enteric Fever still shows a higher percentage of error in
diagnosis than the other two diseases, but Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria,
especially the latter, show a decrease.
The following Table shows the number of cases of mistaken
diagnosis from these three diseases in the several sub-districts and
for the whole Borough, as well as the percentage of error

In 1904 the percentage of cases of mistaken diagnosis for the
whole of London was, for Scarlet Fever 6.7, compared with seven in
1903; for Diphtheria i6.1, compared with 14.7; and for Enteric Fever
25.9, compared with 24.2.
In the Annual Report of the Statistical Committee of the Metropolitan
Asylums Board for 1904 it is stated that out of the total of 806
cases of Scarlet Fever wrongly certified, there were 120 of Measles,
130 of Rubella, 106 of Tonsilitis, 157 of Erythema, 84 had no obvious
disease, and 86 were not diagnosed. Of the 904 cases wrongly
certified as Diphtheria there were 64 of Measles, 614 of Tonsilitis, 14
had no obvious disease, and five were not diagnosed. Out of the 268
cases wrongly certified as Enteric Fever there were 17 of Influenza, 12
of general Tuberculosis, 47 of Pneumonia, 10 had no obvious disease,
and three were not diagnosed. It is also stated that these cases were
detained in hospital on an average for 25-18 days.
/