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During the year 1,071 swabbings from throats of persons
suspected to be suffering from diphtheria were bacteriological
examined, of which 340 gave positive results, 719 negative results.
and 12 were returned as doubtful.
Diphtheria Anti-toxin.— In accordance with the Anti-toxin
Order of 1910, a supply of diphtheria anti-toxin was provided
during the year, and issued as required to medical practitioners
applying for it in cases of diphtheria or suspected cases of diphtheria
amongst the poorer inhabitants of the Borough. During
the year 156 bottles of anti-toxin of 2,000 units each were supplied
to medical practitioners, most of which was used for prophylactic
purposes.
Typhoid or Enteric Fever.— During the year under consideration,
12 cases of enteric fever were notified, but of these, 5 cases
were found subsequently not to be suffering from this disease, thus
reducing the genuine cases to 7. This shows a decrease of 7 on
the number of genuine cases notified during 1920. The attack rate
was 0.03 per 1,000 inhabitants.
Of the 7 cases notified, 5 were removed to hospital.

The deaths from enteric fever in the Borough last year
numbered 2.
During 1921 specimens of blood from 28 persons suspected to
be suffering from enteric fever were submitted to Widal's test. All
these gave a negative reaction.