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39
Errors of Diagnosis in Notified Infectious Diseases.
Of the patients certified as suffering from scarlet
fever 39 or 5 per cent., from diphtheria 27 or 10 per
cent., and from enteric fever 5 or 14 per cent. were
subsequently ascertained to be not suffering from those
diseases.
Puerperal Fever.
Of puerperal septicaemia 19 cases were notified during
the year, or 4.5 per 1,000 births, of which 4 or 0.95
per 1,000 births proved fatal.
Sixteen of the cases were attended by midwives and
three by medical practitioners.
Fifteen of the patients notified were removed to the
Infirmary and two to the Western Fever Hospital.
Erysipelas.
121 persons were notified as suffering from erysipelas,
and 4 deaths were attributed to the disease.
Cerebro-Spinal Fever.
In three of the five cases notified the diagnosis was
mistaken, the diseases from which the children were
subsequently found to be suffering being respectively,
suppurative meningitis consequent upon disease of the
middle ear, tubercular meningitis, and acute poliomyelitis.
Of the two children in whom the diagnosis was confirmed,
one died in Fulham Infirmary.
Poliomyelitis.
Two cases were notified. Both patients are reported
to be regaining power in the affected muscles. The