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83
Scarlet Fever, leaving a total of 537 cases, the attack-rate being 3.4
per 1,000 of population.
3 deaths occurred, giving a fatality rate of 0.5 per cent.
Diphtheria.
The total notifications received numbered 387 and the total removals
to hospital were 385. 57 patients were certified to be suffering from other
diseases, leaving a total of 330 cases, the attack-rate being 2.1 per 1,000
of population.
11 deaths occurred, including 1 case which occurred outside the
Borough and was not notified, leaving 10 deaths, which give a fatality
rate of 3.0 per cent.
Diphtheria Anti-toxin.
208,000 units of diphtheria anti-toxin were issued to medical
practitioners during the year.
The supply of anti-toxin is kept at the Public Health Office and is
available day or night for the use of medical practitioners in the Borough.
Care is taken to see that old stock is renewed in accordance with the
instructions on each phial.
In the latter part of the year a circular letter was sent to medical
practitioners practising in the Borough reminding them of the facilities
offered for the supply of anti-toxin and drawing attention to the danger
of waiting for results of swabs before either removing the suspected patient
to hospital or delaying the administration of anti-toxin.
Enteric Fever.
Six notifications were received (of which two related to Paratyphoid
Fever), and the patients were removed to hospital. In one case the
diagnosis was not confirmed, leaving five actual cases, the attack-rate
being o .03 per 1,000 of population.
No deaths occurred.
Bacteriological Examinations.
1,985 swabbings from doubtful cases of diphtheria were examined.
Of these, 219 gave positive results (11 per cent.).