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
Croydon 1935
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]
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| Name. | Day of Disease. | Condition on Admission. | Subsequent progress. | Date of Death Days after admission. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8) E.C. (F) 6 yrs. | 2 | Sloughing membrane over whole pharynx; glands of neck + + . Foetor marked; toxemia ++. | Child became restless with signs of heart failure on 4th day after admission; dying from this on 5th day from admission. | 5 |
| (9) A.R. 2 yrs. | 3 | Croupy slight recession specks on tonsils; colour fair. | Recession increased after admission and tracheotomy performed with relief. Developed signs of heart failure subsequently and this increased till death on fourth day after admission. | 4 |
| (10) M.C. 15 yrs. | 3 | Extensive membrane over whole pharynx; cyanosis and foetor; bull neck; marked toxemia. | Patient shewed signs of heart failure for some weeks after admission. She subsequently developed severe pharyngeal paralysis with marked salivation and died from this 45 days later. She had previously valvular heart disease. | 45 |
| (11) R.A. 6 yrs. | 2 | Membrane over both tonsils, glands of neck + +, toxemia + +.. | Patient developed signs of heart failure 3 days after admission with vomitting and drowsiness. These signs increased till death on 4th day. | 4 |
| (12) M.M. 3 yrs. | 5 | Sloughing membrane over pharynx, colour poor, bull neck. | Patient had signs of heart failure on admission, and these increased steadily until death on 3rd day. | 3 |
The late administration of serum does not exert much influence
on the course of the disease. Diphtheria toxin rapidly becomes
fixed in the tissues, and when once fixed, anti-toxin has no effect
in counteracting its poisonous effects.
Only three of the fatal cases received serum before admission.
Intra-venous and intra-muscular injections of serum were given
in does between 24,000-100,000 units. Intra-venous