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33
DIPHTHERIA.
The deaths from this disease have been much below the average
for the last ten years, although slightly above the number for 1901. Last
year there were 63 deaths, as against 53 for 1901.
The total number of cases notified, including Membranous Croup,
was 539, as against 558 in 1901.
The percentage of deaths to the total cases notified was 11.6.
The annual mortality per 1,000 living was .30.
Deaths from Diphtheria and Membranous Croup during the last
ten years—
1893 155 1898 123
1894 130 1899 184
1895 82 1900 108
1896 129 1901 53
1897 105 1902 63
Of the 539 cases notified, 500 were removed to hospital with 50
deaths, a mortality of 10.0 per cent. 39 cases were treated at home
with 13 deaths, a mortality of 33'3 per cent. This heavy mortality
of cases treated at home was largely due to the Membranous Croup cases
all of which died at home.
The percentage of cases removed to hospital was 92.7.
The "Return" or Secondary cases numbered 8, a percentage of 1.6
on the total number sent to hospital.
The number of cases returned from the hospital as not suffering from
any notifiable disease was 32, or 6.4 per cent. of the cases removed from
home.
Diagnosis of Diphtheria.
I have from time to time received complaints from medical men
in the Borough, that their cases have been returned home after but a few
days retention in hospital, when a bacteriological examination was said to
have shown the presence of the true diphtheria bacillus in the swab submitted
from the throat of the patient, and when no definite clinical
symptons were present.