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

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Wimbledon 1909

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wimbledon]

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The above conclusions are those which have been arrived
at which tend to show that Diphtheria is spread entirely by
personal contact, and that of a very close nature, and that
defective drains have little or nothing to do with the production
of the disease.
During the investigation of Diphtheria, in 50 cases the
drains were tested, and in 27 some form of sanitary defect
was found, that is in 54 per cent. of the houses, whereas in
the ordinary house to house inspection in 39 houses tested
at 29 defects were found, that is in 74 per cent., so that it
will be seen that the defects found in the houses in which
Diphtheria occurred was about 20 per cent. less than occurs
in the ordinary property which is inspected by the Department.
With regard to the mortality from Diphtheria, the whole
question is one of time, as the mortality increases with every
day treatment is postponed, as will be shown from the accompanying
statistics from the Brook Hospital of the Metropolitan
Asylums Board, from 1898 to 1903, and the Croydon
Borough Hospital from 1898.

In the case of the Brook Hospital.

Antitoxin administered on first day—death rate0 %
„ „ „ second „ „ „4.3 %
„ „ „ third „ „ „11.03 %
„ „ „ fourth „ „ „15.2 %
„ „ „ fifth „ „ „19.9 %
In the case of the Croydon Borough Hospital:—
Antitoxin administered on first day—death rate0 %
„ „ „ second „ „ „3.3 %
„ „ „ third „ „ „7.5 %
„ „ „ fourth „ „ „16.4 %
„ „ „ fifth „ „ „24.8 %

As will be seen from the accompanying chart, there was no particular outbreak of Diphtheria, which was fairly evenly distributed throughout the year.

The cases were distributed through the wards as follows:
St. Mary's10Removed to Hospital6
St. John's5„ „ „3
Cottenham Park6„ „ „2
Dundonald8„ „ „6
Trinity27„ „ „24
South Park34„ „ „26
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