View report page

Twenty cases were eventually decided not to be diphtheria; on the
other hand, probably more were not discovered.

A death occurred from acute laryngitis in an otherwise healthy
child; the circumstances were suggestive of diphtheria, but no membrane
having been seen, and no bacteriological examination having been made,
the case was not reported as such by the medical man in charge.
A number of cases of infectious disease arose while the persons were
away on holiday.
Information reached me from another borough of an outbreak of
diphtheria in a large institution which had been introduced by a child
from Westminster. Her parents stated that she had a slight cold while
at home, had no medical attendant, but was seen by a doctor before
returning to school, and found to be apparently well. On an examination
of all the children being made at the school, this girl was found to be
suffering from swollen glands, and the diphtheria bacillus was found in
her throat. While she was at home, a child living on the next floor
was notified to be suffering from diphtheria, and as her illness was soon
after, it is probable there was some connection between the cases, or
there may have been a "carrier" case friendly with both families.
An instance of rapid recurrence of diphtheria was noted in a child
of three years of age. The first attack began on 22nd January of this
year, he was admitted to hospital on the 23rd, and transferred to Gore