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50
Return Cases. Three return cases occurred during the year. In each
case the primary case on discharge from hospital suffered from slight
nasal discharge.

It will be observed that the number of cases notified in 1925 was
abnormally high and that the percentage of removals to the M.A.B.
Hospitals was also high. On the other hand, the case fatality rate was
low as compared with former years.
Information was received from the M.A.B. that 25 of the cases sent
to Hospital in the course of the year proved not to be suffering from
diphtheria. The incidence of the disease in London generally in 1925
was considerably higher than in previous years.
Of the 172 cases notified, 83 occurred in Stanley Ward, 55 in Church
Ward, 21 in Cheyne Ward, 8 in Hans Town Ward, and 5 in Royal Hospital
Ward.
Early in the year several cases were notified from the Infants' Ward
of a Hospital in the Borough. A thorough examination of the drainage
system of the Hospital was thereupon carried out and such defects as
were found to exist were rectified by the Board of Management. Investigation
for "carrier" cases was also made.
It was also observed that a large proportion of the cases occurred in
children who had been attending the Ashburnham Schools in West
Chelsea. Accordingly, by arrangement with the Education Department
of the London County Council, the drainage and sanitary arrangements of
the Schools were investigated. No defects, however, were found.
The following table shows the average annual case rate, case fatality
rate, and percentage of cases removed to hospital in each of the seven
quinquennial periods since 1891.