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71
Diphtheria.
There were 488 cases of diphtheria notified during
the year. The age grouping of the cases is given in
the accompanying table. All but 2 of the cases were
removed to an isolation hospital.
9 deaths from this disease occurred during the
year, equivalent to a case mortality of 1.8 per cent.,
or general death rate of 0.08 per 1,000 of the population.
These figures seem to show that although the disease
was more prevalent than in 1932, the infection was
less virulent. From information received from the
hospital it would appear that in 82 cases (or 16.8 per
cent, of the total) the diagnosis of Diphtheria was not
confirmed. There were 6 "return" cases.
Anti-diphtheritic serum is stocked at the Town
Hall and supplied free on the order of a doctor; 60,000
units were supplied during the year.
Scarlet Fever.
There were 786 cases of scarlet fever notified during
the year, 769 of the patients being removed to an
isolation hospital.
9 deaths were certified as due to scarlet fever
during the year, equal to a case mortality of 1.1 per
cent., and a death rate of 0.08 per 1,000 population.
These mortality rates are twice as high as in 1932,
and suggest either that this disease is not so mild as
in recent years or that the child population is less fit
to throw off the infection. From information received
from the hospitals, it would appear that in 51 cases
(or 6.5 per cent, of the total) the diagnosis was not
confirmed. There were 19 "return" cases.
Mild Smallpox.
11 cases of mild Smallpox occurred in the Borough
during the year.