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
Shoreditch 1922
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch]
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The numbers of cases and the deaths amongst males and females in the Borough and its eight Wards are given in the subjoined table:—
| Ward. | DIPHTHERIA (including Membranous Croup). | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cases Certified. | Fatal Cases. | |||||
| Male. | Female. | Total. | Male. | Female. | Total. | |
| Moorfields | 6 | 11 | 17 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Church | 35 | 45 | 80 | 6 | 3 | 9 |
| Hoxton | 23 | 31 | 54 | 1 | ... | 1 |
| Wenlock | 21 | 37 | 58 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Whitmore | 37 | 44 | 81 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Kingsland | 29 | 23 | 52 | 1 | 1 | |
| Haggerston | 29 | 35 | 64 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Acton | 13 | 20 | 33 | ... | 1 | 1 |
| Totals for Borough ... | 193 | 246 | 439 | 11 | 16 | 27 |
The cases are grouped according to ages in Table II (Appendix). Of the cases
certified 438, or 99.7 per cent., were removed to hospital. The cases were certified
at the rate of 4.1 per 1,000 inhabitants, the rate being the highest in Haggerston
Ward and lowest in Acton, 5.8 and 2.7 per 1,000 respectively.
The deaths numbered 27, the rate being 0.26 per 1,000 population. The rate
was highest in Moorfields Ward, where it amounted to 0.9 per 1,000. It was lowest
in Acton, where it was 0.08 per 1,000. Of the cases certified 6.1 per cent. terminated
fatally. Of the deaths 24 were of children under five years of age, the mortality
being at the rate of 12.1 per cent. of the cases certified amongst children at that
age period. Allowing for errors in diagnosis, the mortality was a shade higher.
Amongst persons over five years of age the mortality was 1.2, allowing for errors
in diagnosis.
The usual enquiries were made as to the circumstances attending the occurrence of diphtheria in the Borough. With respect to 431 of the cases certified during the year, they were distributed amongst males and females at certain age periods as set out in the subjoined table :—
| Age Period. | Male. | Female. | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1 year | 8 | 8 | 16 |
| From 1 to 2 years | 29 | 27 | 56 |
| „ 2 to 3 years | 30 | 26 | 56 |
| ,, 3 to 4 years | 21 | 19 | 40 |
| ,, 4 to 5 years | 12 | 12 | 24 |
| ,, 5 to 10 years | 51 | 62 | 113 |
| ,, 10 to 13 years | 13 | 28 | 41 |
| Over 13 years | 28 | 57 | 85 |
| Totals | 192 | 239 | 431 |