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126
than diphtheria. In this connection three diphtheria patients
caught scarlet fever in hospital. These cross infections have
already been referred to in the section devoted to scarlet fever.
Three patients were infected with diphtheria from playfellows.
Two caught the infection on visits to people in the country.
Six developed the disease after recent attacks of measles. The
association between the two diseases, measles and diphtheria, is
often a close one. There were 3 return cases.
Cases discharged cured from Hospitals.—A few days
after their arrival home from fever hospitals, all 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 19
Nasal Discharge 20
Nasal Voice (Paralysis of
Palate) 7
Sore Nostrils 1
Ear Discharge 1
Conjunctivitis 21
Anaemia 12
Sore Throat 5
Difficulty of swallowing 1
Vomiting 2
Weakness of limbs, probably
slight paralysis
following diphtheria 12
Shortness of breath 13
Rashes, possibly due to
the use of anti-toxin
serum 1
It is quite possible that some of the cases in the above list were
discharged from hospital rather a little too soon.
Eleven of the cases referred to were examined by the Medical
Officer of Health, and swabs taken from their throats. In seven
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.