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37.
Deaths from Diphtheria —Thirteen deaths were due
to diphtheria, thus giving a case mortality of 3.6 per
cent. Ten deaths occurred in females and three in males.
Of the thirteen deaths two were in adults aged 48 and 63
years respectively; five deaths occurred in children under
2 years of age and the remaining six persons whose
illnesses ended fatally were aged, 3, 3, 5, 5, 5, and 6
years respectively.
Immunisation or preventive inoculation against
Diphtheria was referred to in last year's report. It is
practised in twelve London Boroughs. It is of course
entirely voluntary. The method has been used in
Edinburgh for nearly three years. Dr. Menzies, Medical
Officer to the London County Council in a recent report
referring to the figures published by the Medical Officer
of Health for Edinburgh said:—"They show that in
Edinburgh with over 11,000 immunised and 95,000 nonimmunised
children, the diphtheria attack rate was at
least ten times greater among the latter untreated children
than among those who were protected, whilst the
death-rate was nil among the immunised and 63 per
100,000 among the non-immunised."
Smallpox.
Two cases of smallpox occurred in Fulham during
1928.
The first case was that of a man aged 24 years whose
illness commenced on 18th April. He did not consult a
doctor until 25th April. The doctor immediately
diagnosed smallpox and I saw the case in consultation
with Dr. Brincker of the London County Council, on the
same day. The patient was sent to hospital on the same
day and remained there until 17th May. Fortunately
the case was a mild one and no secondary cases occurred.
The source of infection could not be definitely
ascertained. According to the man's statement he had
been between Kingston and London for five weeks,