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40
One case of diphtheria was re-notified a week after the return home from
hospital as bacteriological examination gave a positive result. This patient was,
in consequence, isolated at home; a second bacteriological examination a fortnight
later gave a negative result.
In London 15.272 cases were notified giving rise to 1,137 deaths.
We endeavour to co-operate with the Medical Superintendents of the
Metropolitan Asylums Board Fever Hospitals; information is now sent to them
as to any bacteriological examinations before admission or after discharge of the
patients, and also with regard to return cases of scarlet fever.
The practice of taking swabs from the throats and noses of child contacts
was continued during the year and 79 children were so swabbed. In four families
swabs were also taken from mothers, making a total of 83 contacts dealt with.
Of these 31 were negative and in 53 (64-6 per cent.) positive results were obtained.
In three cases where clinical symptoms also indicated diphtheria, the contacts
were notified as suffering from diphtheria and were removed to hospital. The
remaining positive cases were re-swabbed at intervals of a fortnight until found
negative the results of the examinations being shown in the following Table:—

The parents of persistent carriers were advised to obtain treatment for the
children concerned and were recommended to take such contacts to St. Mary's
Hospital for treatment and by inoculation with vaccine made from the patient's
own germs.