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65
Return Cases.—This term is applied to cases of Scarlet Fever which occur in a house
within 28 days of the return from hospital of a previous case. 18 such cases occurred
during the year. Three cases occurred in one house, all due to the same source of infection.
Two of the suspected sources of infection were found to be suffering from nasal discharge,
but the remainder showed no obvious signs of being infectious.
DIPHTHERIA.
The number of cases notified was 390, as compared with 523 during the previous year.
It was subsequently reported by the hospital authorities that 43 cases had been incorrectly
diagnosed, the actual number of cases was therefore 347. Six deaths occurred, giving a case
mortality of 1'7 per cent.—the lowest ever recorded in this Borough. The attack rate was 1.6
per 1,000 of population, as compared with 2.05 in 1926.
Antitoxin for the treatment of cases of this disease is supplied to medical practitioners
free of charge by the Council. During the year 304 thousand units were provided.
ENTERIC (TYPHOID) FEVER.
Twenty-one cases were notified and two deaths occurred, as compared with fifteen cases
and one death in the previous year. On further investigation four cases were found to have
been incorrectly diagnosed, the actual number of cases was therefore seventeen. Based on
bacteriological examination, five cases were reported to.be suffering from Typhoid and nine from
Para-typhoid fever. In the remaining cases definite bacteriological information was not
available. Two cases contracted the disease in France, one in America and one at Margate.
Both the fatal cases contracted the disease abroad.
PUERPERAL FEVER.
Twenty-two cases were notified and four deaths occurred. In addition to the above,
fourteen cases notified as Puerperal Pyrexia were found on further investigation to be suffering
from Puerperal Fever. The total number of cases which occurred during the year was therefore
thirty six. This equals an incidence rate of 10.9 per 1,000 births and a case mortality of 11.1
per cent.
PUERPERAL PYREXIA.
Forty-seven cases were notified during the year. On further investigation the causes
of this condition were reported to be—
Puerperal Fever 14
Mastitis 6
Influenza 6
Doubtful 3
Cystitis 3
Lacerated Perineum. 1
Pyelitis Pneumonia and Empyema 1
Breast Abcess 1
Pulmonary Embolus 1
Reaction from difficult labour 1
Axillary Abcess 1
Pneumonia 1
Pleurisy 1
Pharyngitis 1
Pulmonary Tuberculosis 1
Peritonitis 1
Paratyphoid B 1
Pyelitis 1
Constipation 1
Cold 1
ERYSIPELAS.
Ninety-eight cases were notified and 6 deaths occurred, as compared with 80 cases
and 8 deaths during the previous year.