Lancaster University researcher Professor Catherine Walshe talks about diphtheria in the city in the 1930s as part of a series of local history podcasts and exhibitions to mark a hundred years of Lancaster City Museums.

To mark the centenary milestone, a hundred objects housed across the city’s museums will be featured in weekly podcasts featuring local people, experts and museum staff.

Professor Walshe chose a health card from the 1930s for a child diagnosed with diphtheria, which describes the diagnosis and treatment received, together with a fascinating insight into the public health approaches used at that time as part of disease control.

She said: “I chose this card as it really leapt out at me as someone who worked as a district nurse in the past, and where thinking about housing and the environment is as important as medical treatment and care.

“It also highlighted remarkable parallels with our current COVID pandemic in terms of new vaccinations, and how environmental controls are hugely important in reducing the impact of disease and its transmission”.

In the 1930s, diphtheria was one of most feared childhood diseases, with around 60,000 cases a year in the UK, with a mortality rate of 5-10% pre-treatment and vaccination. Whilst in 1931 there was a vaccine available, it wasn’t widely used in the UK until the mass vaccination programmes of the 1940s, which have now meant that diphtheria is mostly eliminated, with only about three deaths a year.

Councillor Sandra Thornberry, the council’s cabinet member with responsibility for arts, culture, leisure and wellbeing, said: “This special celebration of a hundred years will shine a spotlight on the rich history of our district while bringing together members of community groups, university students and experts, who will bring objects and stories alive through the podcasts.”

The celebration year will culminate in November 2023 enabling local people to vote for their favourite objects, which will result in a ‘100 favourite objects’ exhibition.