View report page

11
DIPHTHERIA (INCLUDING MEMBRANOUS CROUP).
The cases certified numbered 440, of which 101, or 22.9 per cent., were subsequently
not regarded as being diphtheria. This percentage, although somewhat
less than that for 1924, is still greatly above the average for previous years.

The cases are grouped according to ages in Table II. (Appendix). Of the cases
certified 434, or 98.6 per cent., were removed to hospital. The cases were certified
at the rate of 4.1 per 1,000 inhabitants, the rate being highest in Haggerston Ward
and lowest in Acton, 5.4 and 2.6 per 1,000 respectively.
The deaths numbered 17, being at the rate of 0.16 per 1,000 population. The
rate was highest in Hoxton Ward, where it amounted to 0.30 per 1,000. There were
no deaths in Moorfields and Kingsland Wards. Of the cases certified 3.8 per cent.
terminated fatally. Twelve of the deaths were of children under five years, the
mortality being at the rate of 6.3 per cent. of the cases certified amongst children
of that age period. Allowing for the cases not regarded as diphtheria at the hospitals
of the Metropolitan Asylums Board, this mortality is increased to 8.1 per cent.
Amongst persons over five years the mortality was a shade over 2 per cent., or,
allowing for errors in diagnosis, 2.6 per cent, of the cases.
During the year some 68,000 units of antitoxin supplied by the Sanitary
Authority were used in ten cases of diphtheria before their removal to hospital.
The usual enquiries were made as to the circumstances attending the occurrence
of diphtheria in the Borough.
With respect to the cases investigated during