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
Acton 1913
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Acton]
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DIPHTHERIA.
| Total number. | Rate per 1,000 inhabitants. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cases. | Deaths. | Cases. | Deaths. | |
| 1890 | 14 | 7 | .5 | .3 |
| 1891 | 8 | .3 | .08 | |
| 1892 | 27 | 4 | 1.0 | .16 |
| 1893 | 41 | 2 | 1.6 | .077 |
| 1894 | 22 | 5 | .8 | .18 |
| 1895 | 32 | 5 | 1.1 | .17 |
| 1896 | 8 | .7 | .27 | |
| 1897 | 89 | 28 | 2.8 | .9 |
| 1898 | 35 | 8 | 1.07 | .24 |
| 1899 | 49 | 7 | 1.4 | .21 |
| 1900 | 28 | 4 | .7 | .11 |
| 1901 | 34 | 6 | .8 | .15 |
| 1902 | 33 | 4 | .8 | .1 |
| 1903 | 22 | 2 | .5 | .05 |
| 1904 | 32 | .7 | .04 | |
| 1905 | 49 | 4 | .98 | .08 |
| 1906 | 46 | 2 | .88 | .03 |
| 1907 | 63 | 5 | 1.2 | .09 |
| 1908 | 83 | 7 | 1.5 | .127 |
| 1909 | 104 | 22 | 1.8 | .39 |
| 1910 | 118 | 9 | 2.0 | .158 |
| 1911 | 115 | 9 | 2.0 | .15 |
| 1912 | 100 | 8 | 1.7 | .133 |
| 1913 | 117 | 8 | 1.9 | .131 |
The increase in Diphtheria is more apparent than real.
Formerly, only clinical cases of Diphtheria were notified. Now,
owing to the extension of bacteriological facilities many cases
which exhibit only symptoms of sore throat without membrane, but
which prove to have the Klebs Loeffler bacilli present, are notified.
A large number of swabs are also taken from school children who
suffer from sore throat, and where the Diphtheria bacilli are
present, are notified. On the other hand, since 1894 the fatality
has been greatly reduced owing to the introduction of Antitoxin.