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70
The two instances in which the 3 cases occurred in the
same family, present interesting features. In one the person
infecting the remaining members was known to be one of the
youngest children; in the other, suspicion attached to a child also.
In the former, the child was supposed to have had a somewhat prolonged
attack of diarrhoea, but was otherwise quite well. Before the
true nature of the complaint was determined the child had succeeded
in infecting 4 others, two of whom were not attacked till January,
1909, and are therefore not included in the figures for 1908.
In the second case 3 persons were presumed to have been infected by
a child who died of what was supposed to be pneumonia. One of the
patients, the father of the child, died.
Defects in. sanitation, to the number of 13, were found in the infected
houses by the inspectors. Of these, 6 were ordinary nuisances
—dirty houses, etc., and 7, defects in drainage. Notices were served
and the defects remedied.
In 22 of the 41 cases notified, suspicion fell upon food as the
source of infection, viz. : Ice cream, 4; watercress, 5; shellfish, 8 (in
5 instances mussels); tinned fish, and other foods, 5.
During the year, 17 specimens of blood from doubtful cases were
examined ; 10 proved to be negative and 7 positive.
PUERPERAL FEVER.
Four cases of this disease were notified during 1908. Of these, 3
died. In one case the patient had been confined for the first time.
She was 24 years of age, and death occurred 7 days after the birth
of the child. The second patient was 33 years of age, and had been
confined for the third time. Death took place on the 11th day.
Death in the third case occurred on the 21st day. The woman was
30 years of age, and this was the third confinement.
ERYSIPELAS.
The number of cases of this disease notified during the year was 90.
The sex and age distribution of the cases, is shown in the table given
below:—