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13
Age Incidence—
Of the notifications, 18, or 38 per cent. of the total, were
between the ages of 1 and 5 years; and 26, or 51 per cent., were
between the ages of 5 and 15 years. On the other hand, 75 per
cent. of the deaths occurred in children between the ages
of 1 and 5 years.
Between the ages of 1 and 5 years, the case fatality was
17 per cent., whilst between the ages of 5 and 15 years it only
reached 4 per cent.
The figures are too small upon which to base any general
conclusions, except in so far as they coincide with those gleaned
in other districts, and, to this extent, they serve to illustrate
a few facts in connection with the disease.
In the first place, the incidence of attack is different to the
incidence of mortality. Diphtheria is more prevalent between
the ages of 5 and 15 years, but more deaths occur between the
ages of 1 and 5 years. Translated into other words, these
figures mean, that the younger the child the less chance it has
of recovery if attacked by the disease. If there be anything in
the theory that school attendance is one of the most potent
factors in the spread of Diphtheria, this phenomenon forms a
strong argument against the encouragement of attendance at
school of children between the ages of 3 and 5 years.
Hospital Isolation—
Thirty-nine cases were removed to the Isolation Hospital
and 12 were nursed at their homes.
The deaths were evenly distributed, 2 occurring in the
Hospital and 2 occurring outside.
Twenty-six cases from the North Ward were removed
to the Hospital, 6 from the East Ward, and 7 from the
West Ward.