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23
DIPHTHERIA : (including Membranous Croup.)
(Decennial average 81.1.)
The number of cases reported to me under these two heads was
456. The number of deaths registered was 102 which is equal to a
mortality of 22.3 per cent. on the notifications. On the estimated
population at all ages the mortality was 0 78 against 15 last year.
The general Metropolitan rate was 0.53.
The Registrar General remarks in his recently published summary
for 1895, that, "The mortality from Diphtheria was considerably
greater in the East group of Sanitary districts than in any other,
being equal to 0 81 per thousand."
Seventy-seven of the Diphtheria deaths were amongst young
children aged less than five years, this was 4 0 per thousand on the
estimated population of young children.
The cases removed to Hospital numbered 136, and 44 of them died.
So far as I can ascertain all the severe cases admitted to hospital
were treated by the administration of antitoxic serum.
A most elaborate and carefully drawn report upon the new treatment
has been prepared by the Superintendents of the various Hospitals
where this treatment was in use, the report was issued conjointly.
Its concluding paragraphs are as follows:—
The improved results in the diphtheria cases treated during
the year 1895, which are indicated by the foregoing statistics
and clinical observations, are
(i.) A great reduction in the mortality of cases brought
under treatment on the first and second day of illness.
(ii.) The lowering of the combined general mortality to a
point below that of any former year.
(iii.) The still more remarkablejreduction in the mortality
of the laryngeal cases.
(iv.) The uniform improvement in the results of tracheotomy
at each separate Hospital.
(v.) The beneficial effect produced on clinical course of
the disease.