Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Woolwich]
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occasional nasal discharge, which contained diphtheria bacilli.
Probably no nasal discharge was apparent in Hospital, and it
may not have been thought necessary to swab the nose.
71. The diphtheria of last year was characterised by its
fatality and the rapidity of spread in certain families. Four
cases occurred in each of four families, and five in two families.
It was also characterised by the very low ebb to which it sank
in the first half of the year (a total of only 49 cases), and the
rapid increase from October to December (Tables IX to XII C).
Enteric Fever.
72. There were 24 cases of Enteric Fever (excluding one
mistaken diagnosis), giving a case rate of 0.19. This is far the
lowest rate yet recorded, the previous lowest being 0.34 in 1903.
The case rate in London was 0.41. Chelsea alone of the
London Boroughs had a smaller case rate.
73. There were 6 deaths giving a death rate of 005, as in
the preceding year, which was the lowest recorded death rate.
The London death rate was 0'06.
74. The following are the cases occurring in each parish during the past five years:—
1900. | 1901. | 1902. | 1903. | 1904. | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Woolwich | 23 | 21 | 17 | 10 | 8 |
Plumstead | 39 | 32 | 24 | 22 | 9 |
Eltham | 4 | 15 | 9 | 10 | 8 |
75. Source of Infection.—Four were attributed to eating
shell fish, viz:—one oysters at Dinard (France), one oysters
and mussels, and two mussels. Three had eaten water-cress