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
St Pancras 1925
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]
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52
cent.) were subsequently reported by the hospital authorities not to be suffering from this
disease. The actual number of cases was, therefore, 563, equal to an attack rate of 2.6 per
1,000 of population.
During the preceding 5 years the average yearly number of cases was 570; the figures,
therefore, for the past year practically correspond with this average. Of the 141 cases which
were incorrectly diagnosed, 69 were notified by Medical Officers of hospitals or other
institutions, and 72 by general practitioners.
The number of deaths certified during the year as being due to Diphtheria was 34, equal
to a death-rate of 0.16 per 1000 of population, and a case mortality of 6.0 per cent. of actual
cases.
The following table gives particulars as to the prevalence and fatality of this disease during the past 10 years, corrected for errors in diagnosis:—
| Year. | No. of Cases. | Case rate per 1,000 of population. | No. of Deaths. | Death rate per 1,000 of population | Case mortality per cent. | Percentage of cases removed to hospital. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1916 | 383 | 1.9 | 23 | 0.12 | 6.0 | 95 |
| 1917 | 381 | 2.0 | 25 | 0.13 | 5.5 | 99 |
| 1918 | 340 | 1.9 | 31 | 0.17 | 9.1 | 93 |
| 1919 | 283 | 1.3 | 21 | 0.09 | 7.4 | 97 |
| 1920 | 680 | 2.9 | 33 | 0.14 | 4.8 | 97 |
| 1921 | 657 | 3.1 | 51 | 0.24 | 7.8 | 98 |
| 1922 | 612 | 2.9 | 14 | 0.21 | 7.2 | 98 |
| 1923 | 399 | 1.9 | 20 | 0.09 | 5.0 | 98 |
| 1924 | 505 | 2.3 | 22 | 0.10 | 4.4 | 99 |
| 1925 | 563 | 2.6 | 34 | 0.16 | 6.0 | 98 |
Of the 704 cases notified, 692 (98.3 per cent.) were removed to hospital. 685 were
admitted to Metropolitan Asylums Board Hospitals, and 7 eases to other hospitals.
Return Cases.—This term is applied to cases of Diphtheria occurring in the same house
within 28 days of the return from hospital of a previous case.
12 cases of this description occurred during the year. Two eases were in one house
and one in each of ten other houses.
TYPHOID OR ENTERIC FEVER.
Sixteen cases were notified during the year; but, on further investigation, 5 of these
were found to have been incorrectly diagnosed. The actual number of cases was, therefore,
11.
During the preceding 5 years, the average yearly number of cases was 14.4; the figures,
therefore, for the past year arc below the average.