London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Shoreditch 1901
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch]
This page requires JavaScript
19
DIPHTHERIA (INCLUDING MEMBRANOUS CROUP).
There were 316 case? of the above disorder certified during the year, including 23
n which the patients were subsequently found not to be suffering from diphtheria, and
the deaths from the disease numbered 28, being fewer than in any year since 1390.
The death-rate due to diphtheria was 0.23 per 1,000 as compared with 0'45 in 1900,
and 0.52 in 1899 (see appendix Table VI).
The numbers of cases and deaths since 1890 are set out below:
| Year. | Oases. | Deaths. | Year. | Cases. | Deaths. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1891 | 237 | 65 | 1897 | 361 | 80 |
| 1892 | 213 | 50 | 1898 | 259 | 45 |
| 1893 | 513 | 149 | 1899 | 369 | 63 |
| 1894 | 303 | 76 | 1900 | 353 | 54 |
| 1895 | 244 | 59 | 1901 | 316 | 28 |
| 1896 | 356 | 75 |
As shown by the percentage of the cases terminating fatally, diphtheria during
1901 was of a much less severe type in Shoreditch than in previous years since 1890.
the case mortality being only 8.8 per cent, of the cases certified as compared with
15.3 in 1900, 17.0 in 1899, 17.3 in 1898, 22.1 in 1897, 21.0 in 1896, 24.1 in 1895,
24.0 in 1894, and 29.0 in 1893.
Of the cases certified, the patients being under the age of 5 years, 15.4 per cent,
terminated fatally as compared with 22.7 per cent, in 1900, 34.2 in 1899, 29.5 in
1898, 36.0 in 1897, 31.8 in 1896, 47.5 in 1895, 43.0 in 1894 and 61.0 in 1893.
Of the cases certified amongst persons aged 5 years and upwards 4.4 per cent,
ended fatally as compared with 71 in 1900, 5.4 in 1899, 6.5 in 1898, 9.9 in 1897
12'8 in 1896, 7.0 in 1895, 11.5 in 1894 and 11.4 in 1893. The whole of the deaths
from diphtheria were of children under 15 years of age and in two instances only
were the children over 10 years of age. Amongst adults diphtheria is frequently a
mild complaint and often times escapes recognition, a fact which is highly favourable
to the spread of infection.
The most important factors in the production of the decline in the mortality
from diphtheria which is observable from the above figures are, firstly, the natural
decrease in the severity of the disease itself, and secondly, the use of anti-toxin in
the treatment of the disease. Diphtheria was more prevalent in Shoreditch during
the third quarter of the year.
The numbers of cases and the deaths amongst males and females in the Borough
itnd its four Registration Sub-Districts are as follows;