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53
the Borough, but, during the same period, 2 cases
of cholera were notified and 14 deaths from cholera
registered—all cases probably of epidemic diarrhoea and
cholera nostras or English cholera.
1 plague “contact” arrived from abroad (from Sydney)
per S.S. “Mongolia” and was watched on arrival, but, in
connection therewith, no case of plague developed.
DIPHTHERIA.
During 1913, 36 deaths were registered in the Borough
from diphtheria, and a total of 385 cases were notified,
giving a case-mortality of 9.3 per cent. The annual
averages for two decennia 1891-1900 (Parish), and 1901-10
(Borough) are respectively (1) notified cases, 685.2 and
379.8, (2) deaths 124.7 and 41.6. Of the 385 cases notified
during 1913, 334* (i.e., 86.8 per cent.) were removed to
hospital, and 32 died, giving a case-mortality of 9.6 per
cent. amongst the cases treated in hospital; whilst 51 (i.e.,
13.2 per cent.) were treated at home, and 4 died (i.e., 7.8
per cent.) The case-mortality rate for the whole of the
Borough during 1913 is again low, pointing to (1) the
mildness of the majority of the cases notified, and (2) the
value of antitoxin in the treatment of diphtheria, especially
in the very early stages of the disease, †
The slight increase in the numbers of notified cases of
diphtheria is due to the outbreak of milk-borne diphtheria
in Upper Norwood at the end of the year (see Appendix
pp. 35 to 74). Allowing for this slight increase, the 385
notifications received during 1913 in the Borough shew that
the decrease of the past ten years has been maintained, the
figures for the 4 quinquennia 1891-1895, 1896-1900,
1901-1905, and 1906-1910, being 551.6, 818.6, 513.7 and
348.6 respectively.
* Of the 334 cases of Diphtheria removed to Hospital, 44 proved at
Hospital not to be suffering from that disease.
t 50 Bottles of Antitoxin were distributed during 1913 under the
new Antitoxin Order.