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21
NOTIFIED DISEASES
Diphtheria.—Thirty-three cases were notified, as against
28 in 1907. There were 5 deaths. The mortality rate is .39
per thousand, and the rate of incidence 2.6. Twelve were what
might be termed localized cases, seven having occurred in the
members of one family in one house, two in another, and, in
January, three scholars attending one class had the disease, the
remainder of whom I examined.
All the precautions desoribed were taken, and for all the
cases above referred to antitoxin was available for prevention purposes.
In a mild form, the disease may give very few symptoms,
so that apparently healthy people may convey the infection. An
example of this has already been mentioned when speaking
of the systematic inspection of school children, and my practice
is to visit the school when there is a suspected focus, and
examine for the purpose of eliminating it The remainder < f
the cases were scattered over the District, and there was no
factor common to them.