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It can, therefore, be stated that serum treatment quickly
reduces the fever and early symptoms, prevents to some extent
the development of complications, and shortens the detention
in hospital.
Diphtheria.—124 cases were admitted notified as diphtheria,
of which 6 were not cases—1 broncho-pneumonia, 1
croup and 4 septic tonsilitis. In addition to these, 9 cases
were admitted as "bacteriological diphtheria," and 1 case was
a double infection of diphtheria and scarlet fever. Of the true
cases, 28 per cent. were mild, 52 per cent. were moderately
severe, and 19 per cent. were very severe.
3 cases—all of the haemorrhagic type—died—(death rate
3.0 per cent.).
69 per cent. of the cases were uncomplicated; 28 developed
signs of paralysis, and 3 cases developed otitis media.
Enteric and Paratyphoid Fever:—3 true enteric and 3
paratyphoid B cases were admitted—2 of which were moderately
severe. One case, admitted as a doubtful blood reaction to
typhoid, ran a typical clinical course, but never gave a true
reaction to the enteric or paratyphoids. There were no deaths
and no complications.
Erysipelas:—Two cases of idiopathic erysipelas were admitted
and one—an infant of 10 months—developed general
septicaemia and died on the nineteenth day.
Encephalitis Lethargica:—One child (4 years) suffered
from a mild attack of this disease.
Puerperal Fever.—This case was admitted, notified as
scarlet fever, with a typical scarlet fever rash, sore throat and
tongue. She was isolated throughout in the observation ward
as she had been confined three days previously. On the day
following admission signs of slight puerperal infection developed
and she was treated as a true puerperal case.
This case is interesting from the close association between
puerperal fever and scarlet fever. There was a distinct history
of possible "contact" with scarlet fever shortly before confinement,
and the case on admission could undoubtedly be classed
as a true scarlet fever case in a woman in her puerperium.
Whether there was a secondary infection giving rise to true
puerperal fever, or whether there was a primary puerperal
infection with an early puerperal rash is a matter of dispute,
but the former is possibly correct.
No "cross-infections" occurred.
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