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

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Tottenham 1912

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Tottenham]

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77
tip at first, the papillœ being large and red, and the
throat is red and usually sore; some cases present
little or no rash or sore throat.
(5) Diphtheria:—The incubation period varies from a
few hours to 7 days, and infection lasts a month or
more, and always until the throat becomes normal,
and there is no discharge from the nose. The
disease begins with sore throat, generally accompanied
by feverishness and swelling of the glands beneath
the lower jaw. Greyish white patches form on the
tonsils or throat, and apparently mild sore throat
may prove to be diphtheria, contrary to the
popular belief upon the subject which associates
the commencement of the disease with alarming
symptoms.
(6) Small Pox:—The incubation period is variously
stated as being from 12 to 14 or from 9 to 15 days.
The duration of infection is about 5 weeks, or until
every scab has disappeared. The initial symptoms
are headache, backache, feverishness, and vomiting.
In children it frequently begins with marked
drowsiness. When the child has been ill 3 days,
pimples appear on the face (especially about the
forehead) and limbs (especially about the wrists and
ankles). The pimples later on become vesicular, and
afterwards pustular; scabs form about the tenth day.
It is worthy of note that when the rash first appears,
the temperature falls, and the patient feels better.