Report upon the cause of the increae of mortality from diphtheria in London.

  • St. Pancras (London, England). Health Department.
Date:
[1894]
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Credit: Report upon the cause of the increae of mortality from diphtheria in London. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    8 On examining the table it is to be observed that whereas during the decennium 1861-70 the number of deaths from diphtheria decreased annually, during that of 1871-80 they increased annually, and in similar proportions. Although when the increase of population is taken into account the increase is not quite so great. Comparing the number of scholars on the roll of the London School Board, the influence of elementary education appears to have had some effect in producing this result. But, on tcanning the decennium 1881-90, it is to be observed that there are two suddenly pronounced and per manent increases in the number of deaths, the first extending from near the beginning of the decennium to 1887, and the second from that year to the end and continuing into the next decennium. These increases are seen more clearly on referring back to Diagram I. of curves of mortality produced above and previously commented upon. On further examining this table it is apparent that these distinct and per manent increases in the number of deaths from diphtheria are out of all pro portion to the increase of population and of scholars, and the lust is more or less coincident with the commencement of notification of diphtheria, and of the admission of the disease to the hospitals of the Metropolitan Asvlums Board. The mortality from diphtheria in the hospitals of the Metropolitan Asylums Board was falling during this period, as shown by the following table: Year. Admissions. Deaths. Mortality per cent. 1888 (2 months) 89 46 59.35 1889 722 275 40.74 1890 942 316 33.55 1891 1312 397 30.63 1892 2009 583 29.35 The hospital cases were therefore not the cause of the increase in the number of deaths from diphtheria in London. These peculiar increases led me to examine more closely the statistical figures in relation to diphtheria, and to compare those relating to other dis eases attacking the palate, uvula, tonsils, pharynx, larynx, and trachea. It was not possible to go further back than the beginning of the last decennium as previous to 1881 the Registrar-General gave no details of deaths occurring from these diseases in London. For the sake of brevity I have termed them throat-diseases, and in the following table the deaths from these diseases are set out:— LONDON.—Deaths from Throat Diseases. (Extracted from tables of causes of deaths at different periods of life, male and female, in Registrar-General's Annual Reports.) Year. Total Throat Diseases. Diph theria. Total Throat Diseases other than Diph theria. Thrush. Croup. Laryngitis Other diseases of Larynx and Trachea. Sore Throat, Quinsy.* Estimated population. 1881 1887 657 1230 164 663 260 52 91 3,824,964 1882 2318 853 1465 110 868 312 55 120 3,862,876 1883 2382 952 1430 134 824 283 46 143 3,901,164 1884 2295 951 1344 121 730 307 49 137 3,939,832 1885 2100 904 1196 104 690 264 26 112 3,978,883 1886 1873 851 1022 118 530 248 28 98 4,018,321 1887 2081 953 1128 80 626 259 46 117 4,058,150 1888 2279 1311 968 62 501 251 41 113 4,098,374 1889 2510 1616 894 84 458 218 41 93 4,138,996 1890 2373 1382 991 92 505 234 36 124 4,180,021 1891 2183 1433 750 70 339 210 33 98 4,221,452 * This includes Tonsilitis, Pharyngitis, and Œsophagitis.