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
Hackney 1906
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]
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38
Diphtheria and Membranous Croup.—The number of cases
of this disease notified during 1906 was 387, but of these, 49
diphtheria and 2 membranous croup cases were subsequently
found not to be suffering from any infectious disease, so the genuine
cases of diphtheria and membranous croup for the year is reduced
to 336. This is equal to an attack rate of 1.4 per 1,000 living
persons. This is a slight decline in the prevalence of the disease
upon that during 1905, when the attack rate was 1.5 per 1,000
living persons.
As may be seen from the Chart, the disease remained low, with
small fluctuations, during the whole year.
The following shows the distribution of diphtheritic disease in the various sub-districts of the Borough during 1906:—
| Sub-districts. | North. | Central. | South-West. | South-East. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of Cases of Diphtheria. | 72 | 124 | 72 | 105 |
| Do. do Membranous Croup. | 1 | 6 | 1 | 6 |
| Total attack rate per 1000. | 1-3 | 2-4 | 1-2 | 1-8 |
It will be seen from the above, that diphtheritic disease was
most prevalent in the Central sub-district and least in the SouthWest
sub-district. Of the cases notified 322 were removed to
Hospital. This is equal to 83 per cent. of the total notified.
The deaths from diphtheria and membranous croup numbered
20 during the year. This is equal to 5.9 per cent. attacked, and 09
per 1,000 living persons. The death rate from diphtheritic disease
for all London is .15 per 1,000 living persons.