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42
Medical Officers of Health Annual Report.
in an infective condition. In two of the instances nothing
could be detected wrong, neither peeling nor discharges,
but in the other two, the children had discharge from the
ears. It is well known that these discharges remain infective
for a very long period, and it would not be possible
to retain every case in hospital until the discharge were
cured, as it might go on, in spite of treatment, almost for
years. Some amount of risk appears to be unavoidable,
and it does not at all show that the officials of the Asylums
Board hospitals neglect any precaution that should be
taken; in fact, it is certain that the contrary is the case.
There were 93 cases notified; the number in
Diphtheria.
the three preceding years was 126, 112 and 68.
There has, therefore been a larger number notified than in
1896, but less than in the previous two years. The
number of deaths was 20. This is an increase on the preceding
year and is a larger number than in any year since
1894 when there were 39 deaths. Diphtheria was therefore
proportionately more fatal last year than it had previously
been, the mortality being 21.5 per cent. Of the total
cases 49 were removed to hospital, a proportion of 52.6
per cent.
The number notified in each month were as follows:—
January 3. July 10.
February 3. August 9.
March 6. September 16.
April 4. October 16.
May 3. November 8.
June 6. December 9.
This shows a gradual increase from the beginning
of the year to a maximum in September and October,
checked only by a slight fall in August, associated probably
with the school holidays. It is of interest to note that as
the result of careful examination of the houses in which
the cases occurred, defects were found in 19 only of