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 1930

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch]

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25
Diphtheria.
The cases certified numbered 346 of which 20 or 5.8 per cent. were subsequently
not regarded as being diphtheria. The number of cases during the year was thus 326
which gives an attack rate of 3.3 per 1,000 inhabitants.
The age seasonal and Ward distribution of the cases are included in the table
on page 19.
There were 20 fatal cases—9 males and 11 females. These occurred in the
following age groups :—
Under 1 year 2
Aged 1-2 years 5
Aged 2-5 years 5
Aged 5-10 years 8

Table: The number of cases, the deaths amongst males and females and the attack, death and mortality rates in the Borough, its Wards and in London are given in the subjoined table :—

The number of cases, the deaths amongst males and females and the attack, death and mortality rates in the Borough, its Wards and in London are given in the subjoined table :—

Ward.No. of cases.Fatal cases.Rates per 1,000 population.Case mortality. Deaths per 100 cases.
M.F.TotalM.F.Total
Attack.Death.
Moorfields111122.........5.6......
Church2336591123.40.113.4
Hoxton2736632354.20.337.9
Wenlock1723401122.90.l55.0
Whitmore3016461122.70.124.3
Kingsland1619351453.50.5014.3
Haggerston1617332133.10.289.0
Acton1612281...12.50.0936
Total156170326911203.30.206.13
London.......13,527......4603.10.103.4

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Diphtheria is to be regarded as a serious disease of childhood, both by reason of
the lives which it takes and the prolonged ill-health by which it is often followed.
The cases in Shoreditch were more numerous than in 1929, when they numbered
281. The type of disease was more severe as is shown by the fact that it caused
twice as many deaths as in 1929.