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17
Scarlet Fever.— 89 cases were admitted during the year, 2
however of these proved to be measles and were discharged as ineligibleTwo
cases were also transferred from the diphtheria ward. Rather
more than half of the total cases notified were admitted to the Hospital
and every case with the exception of those still under treatment
at the end of the year left the Hospital well.
Diphtheria.— Including the 4 cases in the Hospital at the commencement
of the year 49 cases have to be accounted for. Of the 45
cases admitted during the year 1 was discharged as ineligible (Follicular
Tonsillitis) and 2 transferred to the scarlet fever ward, 6 died, the remaining
88 were discharged cured and 2 were, at the end of the year,
still under treatment but convalescent.
Notwithstanding the fact that the antitoxin treatment when
applied early to the cases is now undoubtedly acknowledged as the
best, I must draw your attention to the fact that only 2 of the cases
had been so treated before admission, and that in my opinion an unnecessarily
long delay had occurred prior to admission. Only 1 of
the cases was admitted on the 1st day of the disease, 7 on the 2nd, 14
on the 3rd, 8 on the 4th, 1 on the 5th, 8 on the 6th, 8 on the 7th, 2
on the 8th and 1 on the 9th. Tracheotomy was necessary in 4 of
the cases owing to extension of the disease to the larynx, 2 of
these recovered and 2 died. The fatal cases were 1 a child aged 8
years, admitted on the 9th day of the disease, antitoxin was injected
but as expected, owing to the lengthened stage of the disease, without
beneficial result, and the operation also failed to relieve. The other
fatal case was that of an infant 10 months old, admitted in a nearly
moribund condition on the 6th day of the disease. In neither of these
cases had antitoxin been used before admission.
The other fatal cases were:—
1. A child aged 12 years admitted on the 6th day of tha disease.
2. „ 3 „ „ „ 2nd „ „
3. „ 4 „ „ „ 7th „ „
4. „ 8 „ „ „ 3rd „ „