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19
During the year street watering and scavenging
were more extensively and carefully carried out in the
localities, which, in previous years had suffered mostly
from this, to a large extent, preventable disease.
Diphtheria.
During 1905, 134 cases of Diphtheria occurred in
the district, as against 169 in 1904.
There were 18 deaths, two occurred in cases not
admitted to the Hospital, and of the 16 deaths in the
Hospital, nine deaths occurred within 72 hours of
admission.
Formerly the average mortality in Diphtheria was
rarely below 40 per cent. of the persons attacked, but
since the introduction of antitoxin the general mortality
has fallen to about 10 per cent.
I consider that in all doubtful cases antitoxin should
be administered, and that during the progress of the
disease moderate doses should be repeated at about 12
hours interval until the membrane shows signs of
separating or the urgency of the symtoms shows
materially diminusion.
Antitoxin is supplied free of charge to all medical
men practising in the district, and as most of the cases
occur amongst the very poor, the question of expense to
them in providing antitoxin does not arise, so no reason
exists why antitoxin should not be given at the earliest
possible moment as soon as the disease is even only
suspected.