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55
Hospital Treatment and Diagnosis.
Almost all (99 per cent) the cases of Diphtheria
and Scarlet Fever were removed and in a remarkably
prompt manner to M.A.B. Hospitals. I share the
opinion expressed by my predecessor, that it is
desirable that the final diagnosis of all cases should
be reported to the Medical Officer of Health concerned,
on the discharge of the patient. There is good
reason for thinking that in a substantial number of
cases an altered diagnosis is arrived at at the
hospital.
Typhoid Fever.
There were 7 cases notified during the year, 4 of
the cases occurring at the Queen's Hospital for
Children. In one case, notified by a private medical
practitioner, the diagnosis was not confirmed at the
M.A,B. Hospital. One patient died from the disease.
The attention of the Queen's Hospital was drawn
to the undesirability of cases of a dangerous infectious
disease being treated in a general hospital, particularly
a hospital for children, but unfortunately without effect.
The matter was reported to the Ministry of Health,
but it appears that in the present defective state of the
law, the local sanitary authority is unable to enforce
the isolation of such patients in a proper isolation
hospital if they are already being treated in a hospital.
Small-pox.
No case of Small-pox occurred in the Borough
during the year, although cases occurred in other
London boroughs and other parts of the country.
The last serious outbreak of Small-pox in the
Borough took place in 1904, when 118 cases were
notified. Since then, sporadic cases have occurred, as
follows :—
1905 3 1915 1 1922 1
1906 6 1918 2 1923 1
1911 3 1919 1 1925 11
The small outbreak in 1925 suffices to remind us
of the continued danger of this serious disease.