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 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]
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82
Ages and Sexes of Diphtheria Cases Admitted.
Table IX.
| Age. | Males. | Females. | Totals. | Percentage. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0—1 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 2.13 |
| 1—2 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 4.26 |
| 2—3 | 12 | 9 | 21 | 5.60 |
| 3—4 | 15 | 4 | 19 | 5.06 |
| 4—5 | 13 | 16 | 29 | 7.73 |
| 5—10 | 74 | 85 | 159 | 42.40 |
| 10—15 | 29 | 31 | 60 | 16.00 |
| 15—20 | 6 | 22 | 28 | 7.46 |
| 20—30 | 2 | 19 | 21 | 5.60 |
| 30 or over | 7 | 7 | 14 | 3.73 |
| Total 1937 | 171 | 204 | 375 | — |
| Total 1936 | 120 | 162 | 282 | — |
Monthly Admission of Diphtheria Patients.
Table X.
| Cases notified. Clinical cases only. | Cases admitted. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Month. | 1937. | 1936. | |
| January | 29 | 36 | 24 |
| February | 17 | 30 | 29 |
| March | 21 | 30 | 35 |
| April | 5 | 13 | 16 |
| May | 12 | 16 | 25 |
| June | 8 | 10 | 10 |
| July | 19 | 28 | 26 |
| August | 6 | 15 | 8 |
| September | 19 | 27 | 19 |
| October | 74 | 81 | 37 |
| November | 49 | 51 | 34 |
| December | 30 | 38 | 19 |
| Totals | 289 | 375 | 282 |
The average number of days in Hospital for Diphtheria
cases was 36.
The late administration of serum does not exert much
influence on the course of the disease. Diphtheria toxin becomes
fixed in the tissues, and when once fixed, anti-toxin has no effect
in counteracting its poisonous effect.