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Forty-two cases (95.4 per cent, of the total cases notified)
were removed to hospital. The type of disease met with was
definitely severe, and three deaths occurred.
The greatest incidence occurred in the first quarter of the year,
and a notable feature during that period was the association of
diphtheria with measles, seven such cases being admitted to
hospital. There can be little doubt that the co-existence of the
severe measles epidemic which visited Southgate during the early
part of 1935 had not a little to do with the increased incidence and
marked severity of diphtheria within the Borough, by reason of
the lowered resistance of the children, together with the intensification
of "droplet" infection brought about by the measles catarrh.

The fatal cases occurred in patients notified on the second,
sixth and seventh days of disease respectively. This is definitely
unsatisfactory, particularly in view of the extensive propaganda
instituted against diphtheria within the Borough, and reveals the
fact that these efforts must be continued. Practically speaking,
every death from diphtheria is a preventable tragedy, and until the
fact is borne home upon everyone concerned that we are at present
dealing with a particularly virulent type of infection, the risk of
these most regrettable fatalities will remain an ever-present menace.
Swabs are taken of all home contacts and of all cases fourteen
days after their discharge from hospital.
As. hitherto, Diphtheria Antitoxin is kept in stock at the
Public Health Department and issued to all medical practitioners
on application.
-19