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Two cases of laryngeal diphtheria underwent the operation of
tracheotomy. Both were severe cases, admitted at a late stage, and
both died a few days later from heart failure.
Hospital Return Cases—Diphtheria.
2 return cases occurred during the year secondary to discharge
of patients from the hospital after an attack of diphtheria. 1 of the
infectious cases was suffering from a cold when visited; the other
was found to have developed a nasal discharge, containing diphtheria
bacilli, and was readmitted to the hospital.
Home Return Cases—Diphtheria.
No return cases were traced in connection with the few patients
treated at home.
4 ENTERIC FEYER.
15 cases were notified as suffering from enteric fever. In 6 of
these the diagnosis was found to be incorrect. 3 others were young
children treated at home, and 1 at a London hospital, and no source
of infection could be traced. In 1 case of paratyphoid 15, infection
was probably through lettuce or shellfish taken at an open stall
during a day's holiday at a seaside resort. In 1 case of paratyphoid
A, infection may have taken place while the patient was spending
a holiday in a village in the west of England, shortly before the
onset of the disease. The remaining 3 cases gave the agglutinative
tests of typhoid fever, but the source of infection could not be determined.
Out of 8 patients admitted to the Borough Hospital on notification
as enteric fever, 3 were found to be suffering from typhoid
fever, 1 from paratyphoid A, and 1 from paratyphoid B. 1 proved
to have pneumococcal septicaemia, 1 chronic nephritis, and 1 acute
enteritis.
No deaths occurred from enteric fever.
5 SMALLPOX.
No cases occurred in Croydon during the year, though a number
of patients suffering from conditions suggestive of smallpox
were seen in consultation with medical practitioners. Some risk of
an outbreak was incurred through the personal clothing of a
smallpox patient in a neighbouring district in Surrey being sent
to a laundry in Croydon. Precautionary measures were taken, and
no secondary cases followed.