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50
Smallpox. —No case of Smallpox was notified in the
Borough during the year, against no ease in the previous year.
Cholera. —No case was reported as due to Cholera, against
no case in the previous year.
Plague. —No case was reported as due to Plague, against
no case in the previous year.
Diphtheria and Diphtheritic Membraneous Croup. —Four
hundred and forty cases were reported as due to Diphtheria or
Diphtheritic Membranous Croup, against 443 cases in the
previous year. Four hundred and twenty-nine cases were
treated at the Isolation Hospitals and 11 at the homes of the
patients. Forty-nine deaths were registered. The mortality
rate on the cases reported was 11.1 per cent. It is with regret
I have to report this continued increase in the number of cases
of Diphtheria, being only 3 below the previous year which was
the highest number recorded. The cases were fairly evenly
distributed throughout the Borough, and only in a few instances
was it possible to determine accurately the source of infection.
Anti-toxin. —During the year a supply of Anti-toxin was
kept in the Public Health Department for the use of Medical
Practitioners attending patients residing in the Borough. All
the Medical men in the Borough were again informed by circular
letter that supplies of Anti-toxin could be obtained at the Town
Hall. Although more use was made of this than in the past,
it was only to a small extent. This is to be regretted, as lam
convinced some of the mortality from this disease would be
avoided if greater use were made of the free supply of Antitoxin
supplied by the Council.
No difficulty was experienced in removing cases to
Hospital, the accommodation available being adequate for
the number of cases.