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43. Bacteriological Diagnosis. Since January, 1913, the
Council's bacteriologicaT work has been done by the Bacteriological
Department of the Seamen's Hospital, Greenwich. 958 (896
in 1916) swabs were examined for the presence of diphtheria
bacilli. In 157 (167 in 1916) the true Klebs Leffler bacillus
was found, and 620 were found frsa from either the Klebs Leffler
bacillus or Hoffman's.
Of the 958 swabs examined, 205 were taken from school
children by the Medical Officer of Health. Of these, 24 contained
the true Klebs Leffler bacillus (so-called positive cases
and 41 Hoffman's bacillus.
20 positive cases had seme symptoms, viz., running or
sore nose, mild clinical diphtheria or follicular tonsilitis.
These were notified and sent to Hospital or strictly isolated.
Positive cases without any symptoms were excluded from school
and from mixing with other children outside the house. Of the
205 cases, 83 had some symptoms.
Diphtheria antitoxin is kept at the Town Hall and the
Plumstead and Eltham Free Libraries, and supplied to medical
practitioners on application at cost price, or free where there
is inability to pay. Last year nine quantities were supplied
on payment and nil gratis.
ENTERIC FEVER.
44. There were seven cases of enteric fever, not including
five cases of mistaken diagnosis notified as enteric. The
case-rate was 0.05, compared with 0.09, 0.17, and 0.05, in the
three preceding years. For the ten years 1892-1901 the rate
never fell below 0.41. The case-rate in London was 0.11.
45. There were three deaths from this disease, giving a
death rate of 0.02. The death-rate in London was 0.02.