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21
taken possession of and disinfected at the Borough Disinfecting Station. About 60 were
disinfected, and a good proportion of them were very dirty and stained. Careful
enquiries were subsequently made as to the enteric fever cases in the borough, with a
view to ascertaining whether there were any reasons for believing that blankets from
South Africa had had anything to do with the origin of the cases, but the results were
negative.
In connection with the subject of typhoid fever, mention may be made of
"paratyphoid" or "paracolon fever," a condition which has, during the last few
years, been attracting the attention of observers in this country, Prance, Germany,
America and elsewhere.
"PARATYPHOID" FEVER
is a malady which may be said to resemble typhoid fever in every feature, but is
generally a less severe disease. It is stated chiefly to affect young adults. It is not
caused by the Bacillus Typhosus, but by, a different though closely related microorganism,
the "paratyphoid" bacillus of which there appear to be several varieties
About a hundred cases have now been described. The disease is only to be
differentiated from typhoid fever by bacteriological examination. If in a case resembling
typhoid fever Widal's reaction is absent or but slightly developed, "paratyphoid"fever
may be suspected. One case which may have been "paratyphoid"
fever attracted my attention during the year; a confirmatory test as to the presence of
the "paratyphoid" bacillus was, however, not applied so that a positive statement as
to the diagnosis cannot be made. For the information as to the clinical features of
the case I am indebted to Dr. James, of Pitfield Street, and the house physician at
the Great Northern Central Hospital. The patient, F. G., aged 34, seems to have
been taken ill about October 9th, and was under the care of Dr. James from October
11th to October 19th, when his case was certified to be one of typhoid fever, and it
was thought advisable for him to be removed to the hospital above mentioned. The
signs and symptoms were similar to those met with in mild attacks of typhoid fever.
Spots resembling those of enteric fever were observed on the abdomen on October
18th. The temperature varied between 101° to 103° F. The result of a Widal's
examination made by Dr. Bulloch at the London Hospital was negative. Widal's
test was also repeated at the Great Northern Hospital, but the results were negative.
The case was regarded at the hospital as one of mild typhoid, and was certified as
such accordingly. The disease ran the usual course of a mild uncomplicated case of
typhoid fever.
ERYSIPELAS.
The cases certified as Erysipelas numbered 147, as compared with 173 last year.
The numbers for previous years are given in the report for 1901. The deaths were
7, as compared with 8 in 1902, 6 in 1901,10 in 1900, 16 in 1899, 11 in 1898, 5 in 1897,
3 in 1896, 5 in 1895, 5 in 1894, and 15 in 1893.