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43
Diphtheria. Two hundred and seven cases of Diphtheria
were notified within the Borough as compared with 178 during
the previous year, showing an increased prevalence of this disease
of 29 cases during the twelve months. Seventy-three of the cases
occurred in East Greenwich, 76 in West Greenwich, 38 in St.
Nicholas, 11 in Charlton, and 9 in Kidbrooke. Of the total
number, 170 were removed to the Hospital for treatment. There
were 27 fatalities ascribed to this disease during the year, which
gives a case mortality of 13 per cent., which is slightly increased
compared with the 9 per cent, in the previous year, so that it
would seem as if the disease had not only a slightly increased
prevalence, but also an increased virulence. Medical Practitioners
in the Borough forwarded 99 specimens from suspected cases of
Diphtheria for bacteriological examination, of which specimens 26
gave positive results and 73 gave negative results. The large
number of negative results is a very pleasing feature, for it shows
that the Medical men have made use of this method of assisting
their diagnosis in the very doubtful cases, and this has therefore
undoubtedly in many instances kept patients at home, who would
without this method of investigation have been sent to the Hospital.
During the year, 15 of the cases which were notified as Diphtheria,
and removed to the Hospitals, were, after remaining in the
Hospital for various periods for observation, returned as not being
cases of Diphtheria; 10 of which were said to be suffering from
Tonsillitis, 1 from Broncho-Pneumonia, and in 4 cases the illness
was not stated. One case of Membranous Croup was notified in
East Greenwich in a patient between the ages of five and fifteen
years.
Erysipelas. Seventy-three cases of Erysipelas were notified,
against 117 last year; 35 of these cases were in East Greenwich,