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
Leyton 1933
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Leyton]
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46
number of cases notified (94) during the year is the lowest ever
recorded in the area. It will be seen, however, that the case
fatality rate (i.e., number of deaths per 100 cases notified) increased
from 1.93 in 1932 to 7 per cent. in 1933. This agrees with reports
from other parts of the country to the effect that during 1933 there
occurred a marked increase in the severity of the prevalent type of
the disease. In my Annual Report for 1932 I stated that the abnormally
low case fatality rate recorded in that year afforded no
grounds for complacency, as the wave of diphtheria infection is
liable to fluctuate markedly from year to year.
The following list shows particulars regarding the seven deaths due to diphtheria during the year:—
| Date of Death. | Sex and Age. | Cause of Death. | Where Death Occurred. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21-1-33 | Male 4 years | Diphtheria. | Eastern Hospital. |
| 23-1-33 | Female 2 years | Diphtheria. | Plaistow Fever Hospital. |
| 30-1-33 | Male 15 months | Laryngeal diphtheria. | Whipps Cross Hospital. |
| 12-6-33 | Female 5 years | Hæmorrhagic diphtheria | Isolation Hospital. |
| 23-9-33 | Female 11 years | Diphtheria. | Isolation Hospital. |
| 6-11-33 | Male 4 years | Diphtheria. | Isolation Hospital. |
| 22-11-33 | Female 4 years | Diphtheria. | Isolation Hospital. |
Bacteriological Diagnosis.— The arrangements made by the
County Council of Essex with the Counties' Public Health Laboratories,
91, Queen Victoria Street, E.C. 4, for the examination of
specimens sent by any Authority throughout the County, is being
continued.
The following specimens were sent:—
Diphtheria swabs 1428
Ringworm 7
Sputum 757
Widal's test (Enteric Fever) 15
Miscellaneous 21
INFLUENZA.
In Europe during the past half century influenza has played
a part somewhat comparable to that played by plague in the
seventeenth century. In fact, there is much resemblance between
the type of the Great Plague of 1665 and the more recent influenza
plague of 1918-19, which caused actually more—and possibly
porportionally more—deaths than the great plague of the seventeenth
century.
An epidemic of influenza started suddenly in the north (Glasgow)
during the first week of December ; the maximum was reached
shortly after Christmas and the decline was rapid. In England