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One thing is certain that the generally improved sanitary conditions,
including early removal of cases which could not be
effectively isolated, have reduced the mortality of this disease
to a remarkable extent.
Diphtheria Diphtheria was notified in four hundred and two
and
Membra- cases and Membranous Croup in twenty-four, a
nous Croup. total of for hundred and twenty-six. They are
grouped together as it is impossible to distinguish them practically.
One hundred and forty cases were removed to hospital, many in
a dying condition, for the sake of having tracheotomy performed
as a last resort. Thirty-two of these latter cases died, giving a
hospital mortality of just under twenty-three per cent. Of the
cases treated at home two hundred and sixty-two in number,
eighteen died equal to 7.6 per cent. This disease appears to have
become endemic in the Metropolis.
Enteric One hundred and ten cases of Enteric Fever were
Fevers. notified during the year in addition to one of relapsing
and ten of Puerperal Fever. Of the Enteric cases forty-seven
were removed to hospital with a mortality of six equal to thirteen
per cent. Of the sixty-three cases treated at home, eleven died
equal to a mortality of seventeen per cent. The difference in
favour of hospital treatment lies in the fact that the diet is strictly
regulated there, many deaths arising at home from injudicious
feeding with solids before the bowels are fitted for their reception,
ulceration of the bowels being usual in this disease. One death
occurred among the six cases of Puerperal Fever removed to
hospital. Of the four remaining at home three died.
Erysipelas. For some reason this disease has increased during
the last few years in the Metropolis. During 1896
two hundred and sixty-three cases were notified, of these eighteen
were removed to hospital, of whom two died. Of the two hundred
and forty-five remaining at home fourteen died. Those
removed were admitted into the Wandsworth and Clapham Union
Infirmary in the majority of instances. The term Erysipelas
covers so many degrees and forms of inflammatory affections, that
no further discussion of the subject would be profitable.