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 1917
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Woolwich]
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39. 59 of the total cases notified were in Woolwich parish, 69 in West Plumstead, 59 in East Plumstead and 90 in Eltham. The following table shows the case-rate in each registration district (not corrected for mistaken diagnosis) in the past thirteen years, compared with London and the Borough:-
| 1901 -5 | 1906 -10 | 1911 | 1912 | 1913 | 1914 | 1915 | 1916 | 1917 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Borough | 1.71 | 2.20 | 1.68 | 3.09 | 1.91 | 2.72 | 1.77 | 1.81 | 1.65 |
| Woolwich Parish | 1.63 | 2.34 | 2.40 | 4.38 | 4.43 | 4.92 | 2.23 | 2.80 | 1.76 |
| Plumstead Parish | 1.87 | 2.40 | W1.19 | 3.79 | 2.32 | 2.36 | 1.99 | 2.11 | 1.60 |
| E2.33 | 2.81 | 1.02 | 2.39 | 2.87 | 1.23 | 1.50 | |||
| Eltham Parish | 1.62 | 2.22 | 2.30 | 1.71 | 1.29 | 3.33 | 0.88 | 1.72 | 2.96 |
| London | 1.90 | 1.63 | 1.64 | 1.57 | 1.70 | 2.02 | 2.01 | 2.04 | 2.06 |
The table shows that the rate in Eltham Parish was the
highest stnce 1914 & E. Plumstead the lowest.
40. 253 cases, or 91 per cent of total notifications, were
removed to hospital, compared with 93, 94, 92 and 91 per oent.
in the four preceding years. A certificate of efficient home
isolation was given in four cases, compared with 12, 1, 7, 10,
and 8, ill the five preceding years.
The case-mortality was 6.6 per cent. compared with 5.2,
7.0, 0.7, 8.3 and 4.4 in the five preceding years.
27 carrier cases, with or without slight symptoms, were
discovered by your Medical Officer of Health. The usual steps
were taksn.
67, or 24 per cent of the cases notified were over 15
years of age. In the last seven years there has been a marked
increase in the proportion of Diphtheria notifications over
school age. In 1911 the percentage was only 13 and there has
been a steady increase since. There is no similar increase in
the rest of London, and it is probably conneoted with changed
age distribution of the population, and increased provision for
discovering infectious disease among munition workers.
41. Mistaken Diagnosis. 35 cases, or 13 per cent of notifications,
were, after removal to hospital, stated to be not diphtheria.
The percentage of the four preceding years was 19, 16,
15 and 8 respectively.
42. Source of Infection. Six cases occurred at the Elthac
Hostel for Munition Workers. There were three Return cases,
though the suspicion that they were the source of infection was
not confiraed bacteriologically.
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