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55
The notified cases have been dealt with in the same way, as regards visiting,
disinfection, etc., us the scarlet fever cases.
Of the notified cases of diphtheria 429 (or 97 per cent.) have been removed
to hospital as follows:—
To Metropolitan Asylums Board hospitals 401
To other hospitals 28
429
Foundling Hospital.— An outbreak of diphtheria occurred during the year in
this institution, which is composed of 132 boys, 125 girls, 110 infants and
staff. The date of the onset of the first case was August 28th, 1913, and the
cases continued until the end of November, when the outbreak ceased.
In all 38 cases were notified. Of these two were subsequently found not to
be suffering from diphtheria, so that the total number of diphtheria cases in the
epidemic was 36.
The outbreak was entirely confined to the girls' side, the boys and infants
escaping completely.
It began in Ward G4, and this ward suffered most. In all there were 12
cases in Ward G4, 10 in G3, 8 in Gl, and 6 in G2. Nearly all the cases
were mild, some being only recognised bacteriologically, and there were no
deaths.
The control of the epidemic was in the hands of the medical officer of the
institution, who saw all children who had any suspicious symptoms. All cases
were promptly removed to the Infirmary block, and from there to the Metropolitan
Asylums Board's hospitals. All cases of suspicion where diphtheria
was not immediately diagnosed were kept under observation in the infirmary
block until the diagnosis was cleared up.
On 24th September, when 11 cases had been removed to hospital, the
Medical Officer of Health consulted with the Medical Officer at the Institution.
All the girls in Wards 3 and 4, which had then provided 9 of the 11 cases, and
the staff in contact with those wurds, were examined, and swabs were taken
from the nose and throat respectively of those who showed any suspicious
signs (such as sore nose or recent history of sore throat). Swabs were taken
from 8 persons, 4 with positive results (3 cases of rhinitis and one of recent
sore throat). These 4 were removed to hospital, and also 2 others who were
discovered a few days later to be "carrying" the germ. These 6 "carriers"
were included in the total number of cases given above (36). After the
removal of the "carriers" no further cases occurred for three weeks, when
they began to uppear again.
No cases of notifiable infectious disease were reported from the Institution
after November, 1913.