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49
under 60 per cent. survived, although the recoveries in that
hospital in any former year did not exceed 25 per cent., and
in the preceding year—viz., 1894—were as low as 10 per cent."
It further appears that "the improved results in the
tracheotomy cases of 1895 have also been shared by analogous
cases in which the operation was not performed;" for "the
percentage mortality of all laryngeal cases fell from 62 in
1894 to 42.3 in 1895"; whilst "the number of laryngeal
cases which required tracheotomy fell, in 1895, to 453 per cent.;
whereas in 1894 it was 56 per cent." The foregoing results
may be summarised by saying that the percentage mortality
of laryngeal cases at the hospitals was less by nearly 20 per
cent., in the antitoxin year 1895, than in 1894 ; that the percentage mortality in tracheotomy cases was 21'4 per cent.
less, and that the percentage of laryngeal cases requiring
tracheotomy was 9.2 per cent. less in 1895 than in 1894.
Tables 45 to 66, dealing with the number and percentage
incidence of complications which arose amongst the cases
which form the subject of the report, and the comments of
the Medical Superintendents thereon, are highly interesting,
but the subject is too technical to be dealt with here. Table
66, however, deserves reference, as showing the "complications probably connected with antitoxin." A rash is the
most common sequel, and usually it takes the form of a nettle
rash, or an erythema: it is similar to the eruptions of measles
and septicœmia, but it may be scarlatiniform. It is often
accompanied by secondary fever. The rash was observed in
1,002 cases, or 45.9 per cent. of total cases, 2,182 in number.
Joint pains were observed in 103 cases, or 4.7 per cent. of
total cases. These pains are seldom severe, they pass off in a few
days and apparently leave no ill effects. Fever (secondary),
with or without rash or pains, was observed in 647 cases, or
29.6 per cent. of total cases. This secondary fever in some
cases persists for several days, and may be unaccompanied by
any other obvious symptoms; but it has the effect of some-
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