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 1912
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]
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The following table shows the distribution of the cases of this disease in the different sub-districts of the Borough during 1912:—
| Sub-Districts. | North. | Central. | South-West. | South-East. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of Cases of Diphtheria and Membranous Croup. | 57 | 61 | 67 | 64 |
| Total attack rate per 1,000. | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.1 |
From the above it will be seen that diphtheric disease was
equally prevalent in the whole of the sub-districts of the Borough.
The deaths from diphtheria and membranous croup during the
year numbered 12. This is equivalent to a mortality rate of 5.5 per
cent, attacked and .05 per 1,000 living.
The death-rate from diphtheria for London during the same
period is .10 per 1,000 living.
During the year 258 swabbings from throats of persons suspected
to be suffering from diphtheria were bacteriologically examined,
63 of which gave positive results, 190 negative results, and 5 were
returned as doubtful.
Diphtheria Anti-Toxin.
In accordance with the Anti-Toxin Order of 1910, a supply
of diphtheria anti-toxin was provided during the year 1912, and
it was issued as required to medical practitioners applying for it
in cases of diphtheria amongst the poorer inhabitants of the
Borough. There were 19 bottles of anti-toxin of 2,000 units each
supplied during the year to medical practitioners, of which 4 were
for curative treatment and 15 for prophylaxis.