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

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East Ham 1897

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for East Ham]

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DIPHTHERIA.

Manor Park WardPlashet Ward.Central Ward.Beckton & North Woolw'h Ward.Totals.
1896189718961897189618971896189718961897
January7..31021211412
February112863121014
March3..11682..1229
April3..42615..183
May..16424....89
June1..231081..1411
July..42366..3815
August11319351..825
September383105..111219
October11612441..1217
November131013419..2417
December....2212..6..32221
Totals21197410256402111172172

There were 175 cases of Diphtheria (including three cases
of Croup) recorded in 1897, resulting in 31 deaths. Twentythree
of these deaths were under five years of age and eight
over five years, as against 176 recorded for the year 1896,
which resulted in 28 deaths.
It always occurs in its greatest severity among children
during the first five years of life. In a great many instances,
when one case occurs in a family, several, and often all, the
members in the household are attacked respectively. I still
consider that milk, water and food, in many cases, have not
been wrongly suspected as the cause of contagion, although in
some instances defective drainage has been contributory to the
spread of Diphtheria.
An arrangement was made in September with the West
Ham Corporation to admit cases of Diphtheria into the