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64
62. Contacts. Contacts of cases were examined during the
year as in previous years, and 9 cases presenting no symptoms
were discovered as "carriers" of the diphtheria germs. The
usual steps were taken in each case. The number of return
cases was 2.
63. Bacteriological Examination. Since January, 1913, the
Council's bacteriological work has been done by the Bacteriological
Department of the Seamen's Hospital, Greenwich. 749
swabs were examined for Diphtheria bacilli, and 90 were found
positive.
64. Anti-toxin. Diphtheria anti-toxin is kept at the Town
Hall and the Plumstead and Eltham Free Libraries, and supplied
to medical practitioners on application at cost price, or free
where there is inability to pay. The amount supplied during
the year was 204,000 units, at a total cost of £13 12s. 3d., all of
which was, with the exception of £3, recovered from medical
practitioners.
65. Deaths. The number of deaths due to Diphtheria was
28. The deaths and death-rates from this disease each year since
1901 are shown in Table 29.
66. The following Table, No. 32, shows the case-rate in each
registration district and in the Borough (not corrected for mistaken
diagnosis), and the percentage removed to hospital in each
year since 1901.