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103
Two patients caught diphtheria while on a visit to relatives.
There were 6 return cases.
Cases discharged cured from Hospital.—Within a few
days after their arrival home from the fever hospitals, all these
patients are examined very carefully and a record kept of their
condition. A leaflet is given to the parents, its terms explained,
and precautionary measures are advised. If a child has a discharge
from the nose, or if for any other reason the infection is
believed to persist, the mother is advised to take the child to her
own doctor, or if poor to bring it to the public health department.
The conditions found amongst these convalescent patients after
their return home are shown below.
Neck Glands enlarged 17 Sore Throat 2
Nasal Discharge 11 Difficulty of swallowing 3
Nasal Voice (Paralysis of Vomiting 5
Palate) 12 Weakness of limbs, proSore
Nostrils 2 bably slight paralysis
Sore angles of the mouth 2 following diphtheria 20
Ear Discharge 2 Shortness of breath ... 8
Conjunctivitis 7 Rashes, possibly due to
Anaemia 19 the serum 1
It is quite possible that some of the cases in the above list were
discharged from hospital rather a little too soon.
Thirty-one of the cases referred to were examined by the
Medical Officer of Health and swabs taken from their throats.
In fifteen of these the diphtheria bacillus was still present. The
cases were kept under supervision and excluded from school
until they were considered to be free from infection.
Throat swabs are examined bacteriologically free of charge
from medical men by the Public Health Department; 221 were
submitted in 1911, and in 50 specimens the diphtheria bacillus was
found present.
Diphtheria Anti-toxin (London) Order, 1910.-For the
purposes of this order medical men may, on request at the Public