London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Woolwich 1911

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Woolwich]

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40
The chief symptoms of Diphtheria are sore throat, with
white or yellow patches on the sides of the throat, swelling
in the neck "below the ear and the side of the jaw, and
weakness. Sometimes the disease affects the nose only,
causing a discharge of matter from one or both nostrils;
these cases are very infectious.
All cases of sore throat should be looked upon with
suspicion, and when the throat is very red, or there are
white patches, a doctor should be sent for at once.
It is very important that not an hour should be lost in
Commencing the proper treatment, as delay of one day
makes the chance of recovery much less. If removal to
Hospital is required, application should be made at once
to the Ambulance Station, Shooters Hill, or the Public
Health Department, Town Hall.
Sidney Davies, m.a., m.d.,
Town Hall, Medical Officer of Health.
October, 1911.
51. Mistaken Diagnosis. 35 cases, or 15 per cent, of
notifications, were, after removal to hospital, stated to be not
Diphtheria. The percentage of the three preceding years
was 8, 10, and 10 respectively.
52. Source of Infection. In 67 cases, a probable source
of infection was noted, viz.:—in 29, other inmates of the
house were known or suspected to be the source; in 18,
school; 3, neighbours and friends; 1, a return ease; 4,
general hospitals; and in 11 the infection was caught while
in the Fever Hospital on account of measles, whooping