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
Woolwich 1900
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Woolwich]
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51
Diphtheria.
26. The following table gives the eases, deaths, and rate per
1,000 population during the year and preceding nine years:—
Table E.
| No. of Cases. | Case-Rate. | No. of Deaths. | Death-Rate. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1891 | 37 | 0.7 | 6 | 0.11 |
| 1892 | 118 | 2.0 | 38 | 0.70 |
| 1893 | 179 | 3.2 | 65 | 1.17 |
| 1894 | 118 | 2.0 | 34 | 0.59 |
| 1895 | 148 | 2.5 | 34 | 0.58 |
| 1896 | 198 | 3.3 | 60 | 1.00 |
| 1897 | 131 | 2.2 | 24 | 0.39 |
| 1898 | 110 | 1.7 | 15 | 0.24 |
| 1899 | 182 | 2.8 | 16 | 0.24 |
| 1900 | 240 | 3.52 | 24 | 0.33 |
It thus appears that the number of cases and case rate in
1900 were the highest in the past ten years.
The death-rate from Diphtheria, however, has only been three
times lower in that period.
27. The case death-rate was 100 per cent which with the
exception of 1899, when it was only 8.8, is the lowest it has been
since notification began.
28. Two hundred and seventeen cases were treated at
Hospital, or nine-tenths of the whole, the highest proportion of
hospital treated cases I have yet reported.
The case death-rate was 17.5 at home and 9.2 at Hospital.
Two of the four deaths which occurred at home were not treated
with antitoxin, the medical attendant not believing in this "newfangled"
treatment.
D 2