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As in my Annual Report for 1903, I will again quote from Professor Simpson's
paper on infectious hospitals (Journal of State Medicine, September, 1903).
"It appears to me that in future hospitals for infectious disease the cubicle
system is the one to be adopted. I do not advocate the absence of classification of cases
which characterises the Pasteur Hospital, but I do advocate that a patient sent for
treatment to an infectious hospital shall be isolated, and not segregated with others, to
the disadvantage of both. And in regard to the existing hospitals, many wards could
with advantage be converted into the cubicle system. Glass is now made as strong as
ordinary walls, and there would be no difficulty in having the lower part opaque while
the upper part was transparent for purposes of administration and light. One set of
cubicles could be used for the admission of patients until it was determined whether
two diseases co-existed. In th6 event of co-existent diseases, they could be treated in
the cubicle until well; while in the event of it turning out to be the disease for which
it was sent to hospital, the patient could be drafted after a certain time into a suitable
common ward where the cases were classified. Another set of cubicles would provide
isolation rooms for all patients suffering from discharges, thus preventing any
possibility of spreading to other cases, and avoiding the danger of remaining in a ward
in which infectious material could be engrafted on the discharges. In this manner
some of the advantages of the cubicle system could be secured in hospitals already
built."
DIPHTHERIA.
The number of cases of diphtheria notified was only 47, of which 10 belonged
to St. Giles and Bloomsbury and 37 to the Holborn Division. All but two patients
were removed to hospital. The average number of notifications for the preceding
decennium was 122; 44 for St. Giles and Bloomsbury, and 77 for the Holborn
Division.
During the year there were four deaths, all belonging to the Holborn Division.
There was no special outbreak during the year. The disease was most prevalent
in the Borough in the month of October, during which month there were 11
notifications.
Secondary and "Return" Cases.
There were four secondary cases all of which were notified about a week after the
primary case. There were no return cases.
Ekboks in Diagnosis.
Only one patient was returned from hospital as not suffering from diphtheria on
the thirteenth day after admission. The remarks under the heading of scarlet fever
apply in a similar manner to diphtheria.