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 1926
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch]
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The number 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 | 4 | 5 | 9 | . | . | . |
| Church | 31 | 38 | 69 | . | 1 | 1 |
| Hoxton | 31 | 27 | 58 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Wenlock | 28 | 33 | 61 | 1 | . | 1 |
| Whitmore | 34 | 31 | 65 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Kingsland | 24 | 12 | 36 | . | ||
| Haggerston | 21 | 24 | 45 | 1 | 1 | |
| Acton | 14 | 15 | 29 | 2 | . | 2 |
| Totals for Borough | 187 | 185 | 372 | 7 | 5 | 12 |
The cases are grouped according to ages in Table II (Appendix). They were all
removed to hospital for treatment. The attack-rate was 3.5 per 1,000 inhabitants.
The rate was highest in Wenlock and lowest in Moorfields Ward, 4.3 and 1.9 per
1,000, respectively.
The deaths numbered 12, the rate being 0.12 per 1,000 population. It was
highest in Hoxton Ward, where it amounted to 0.24 per 1,000. There were no deaths
in Moorfields and Kingsland Wards. Of the cases certified, 3.2 per cent, terminated
fatally. Nine of the deaths were of children under five years. Allowing for 31
cases not regarded as diphtheria at the hospitals of the Metropolitan Asylums Board,
the case mortality was 7.0 percent. Amongst persons over five years, the mortality
was 1.9 per cent, allowing for some 56 cases not regarded as being diphtheria.
During the year anti-toxin obtained from the Health Department was
administered in two cases before removal to hospital, some 20,000 units being used.
The usual enquiries were made. With regard to the cases investigated, they were distributed amongst males and females according to age periods as set out below:—
| Age Period. | Male. | Female. | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1 year | 6 | 5 | 11 |
| From 1 to 2 years | 16 | 15 | 31 |
| „ 2 to 3 years | 29 | 17 | 46 |
| „ 3 to 4 years | 15 | 13 | 28 |
| „ 4 to 5 years | 14 | 24 | 38 |
| „ 5 to 10 years | 59 | 43 | 102 |
| „ 10 to 13 years | 18 | 18 | 36 |
| Over 13 years | 26 | 50 | 76 |
| Totals | 183 | 185 | 368 |