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31
NOTIFIABLE DISEASES, Etc.
Diphtheria.
There were 566 cases of diphtheria notified during
the year.
Of these, there were 16 cases under the age of 1
year, 252 "between the ages of 1 and 5 years, 236
between the ages of 5 and 15 years, 41 between the
ages of 15 and 25 years, 19 between the ages of 25
and 45 years, and 2 between the ages of 45 and
65 years.
Of the 566 cases, all were removed to an isolation
hospital except 3. In 2 of these cases there was a
doubt as to the correctness of the diagnosis. The
remaining case was treated at home, proper facilities
being available for isolation and treatment.
Twenty-nine deaths from this disease occurred
during the year.
Comparison with previous years is as follows :—
1918 26 deaths
1919 58 „
1920 36 „
1921 34 „
1922 34 „
1923 20 „
1924 29 „
Of the 29 deaths, 17 were those of children over
1 year of age and under 5. The second, third, fourth,
and fifth years of life comprise the epoch when the
young child is most susceptible to diphtheria, and a
heavy toll of life is taken. Of the 252 cases occurring
during this period of life, it will be seen that 6.7 per
cent. died. At the epoch 5.15 years the mortality was
only 3.9 per cent, of those attacked.
Antidiphtheritic serum is stocked at the Town
Hall and supplied free on the order of a doctor.
64,000 units were supplied during the war.