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
Ealing 1933
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Ealing]
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Deaths.—There were ten deaths from diphtheria, giving a case mortality of 6.49 per cent. They are recorded as follows:—
| No. | Day of Disease when Admitted | Days in Hospital before Death | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 6 | 27 | Severe faucial diphtheria. |
| 2. | 4 | 8 | Severe faucial diphtheria. |
| 3. | 4 | 2 | Haemorrhagic diphtheria. |
| 4. | 4 | 7 | Severe faucial diphtheria. |
| 5. | 7 | 1 | Severe laryngeal diphtheria. Tracheotomy performed. |
| 6. | 5 | 4 | Severe faucial diphtheria. |
| 7. | 3 | 1 | Severe laryngeal and faucial diphtheria. |
| 8. | 3 | 2 | Severe faucial diphtheria. |
| 9. | 4 | 9 | Severe faucial diphtheria. |
| 10. | 3 | 8 | Severe faucial diphtheria. |
In the above table it is seen that the cases had been ill for
three to seven days before the specific treatment by anti-toxin
was given. The delay in treatment was in some cases due to the
doctor not having been sent for early enough, but unfortunately
in others it was due to the doctor having waited for the result of
the swab before considering the case as one of diphtheria. These
deaths emphasize the need for treating all suspected cases as
diphtheria by giving anti-toxin at the earliest possible opportunity.