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54
DIPHTHERIA.
During 1912, 29 deaths were registered in the Borough
from diphtheria, and a total of 329 cases were
notified, giving a case-mortality of 8.8 per cent. The
annual averages for two decennia 1891-1900 (Parish), and
1901-10 (Borough) are respectively (1) notified cases, 685.2
and 379.8, (2) deaths 124.7 and 41.6. Of the 329 cases
notified during 1912, 300* (i.e., 91.2 per cent.) were removed
to hospital, and 29 died, giving a case-mortality of
9.9 per cent, amongst the cases treated in hospital; whilst
29 (i.e., 8.8 per cent.) were treated at home, and none
died. The case-mortality rate for the whole of the
Borough during 1912, is again low, pointing to (1)
the mildness of the majority of the cases notified, and
(2) the value of antitoxin in the treatment of diphtheria,
especially in the very early stages of the disease.†
The decrease in the number of diphtheria deaths
throughout the Borough during 1912 is again noteworthy,
as it has been during the four quinquennia
1891-5, 1896-1900, 1901-1905, and 1906-1910 when the yearly
averages of the numbers of deaths were 123.2, 125.8, 38.8 and
44.4 respectively. So, too, if the 329 notifications of diphtheria
received during 1912 in the Borough be compared
with the yearly averages for the four quinquennia
1891-1895, 1896-1900, 1901-5, and 1906-1910, when the
yearly averages were 551.6, 818.6, 513.7 and 348.6 respectively,
a similar decrease will be noticed.
Even allowing for the slight fallacy that may arise from
comparing statistics of the old Parish with those of the new
Borough, the decrease in the mortality from diphtheria is
again noteworthy and, when taken in conjunction with the
*Of the 300 cases of Diphtheria removed to Hospital, 23 proved at
Hospital not to be suffering from that disease.
†38 bottles of Antitoxin were distributed during 1912 under the new
Antitoxin Order.