View report page

29
ISOLATION HOSPITALS.
ADEQUACY OF ACCOMMODATION.
The accommodation proved sufficient for the demands made
on it this year by the straightforward cases of scarlet fever and
diphtheria, 253 patients being admitted with a diagnosis of scarlet
fever, and 78 with a diagnosis of diphtheria.
A few patients suffering from these diseases were admitted to
other hospitals, these mostly being removed as in- or out-patients
from general hospitals in London.
Patients suffering from other infections had, of necessity, to
be admitted elsewhere, these including 14 sufferers from whooping
cough and 7 from puerperal infection.
PROVISION OF NEW HOSPITAL.
By midsummer all obstacles impeding the erection of the newhospital
appeared to have been removed, and everything seemed
to be plain-sailing. The final draft of the conditions for the architectural
competition had been agreed upon, the assessor for the
competition had been appointed, as had also the consulting engineer,
and an agreement had been reached with the County Council on
the question of the access roads, drainage and provision of other
services.
CLINICAL ASPECTS.
Diphtheria.
Admissions:—
Number admitted on a diagnosis of diphtheria 78
Number of cases clinically diphtheria 43
Number of carriers 4
In 31 cases the diagnosis of diphtheria was not confirmed, the
revised diagnosis in 23 being acute tonsillitis, and in 4, respiratory
complaints.
Of those cases clinically diphtheria, 41 were faucial and 2 nasal.
Of the carriers, one was faucial and 4 nasal.
Deaths.—Number of deaths, 8.
Case mortality of diphtheria cases, 19 per cent.
The days of disease on which the fatal cases were admitted
were the 4th in two, the 5th in three, the 6th in two, and the 8th
in one.
Cross Infection.—Two patients contracted scarlet fever and
one whooping cough.