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3.—DIPHTHERIA.
Out of 104 cases notified on account of diphtheria, 100 were
treated at the Borough Hospital and 4 treated at home; while 28
cases were admitted from Penge U.D.
In addition, 10 patients were admitted for conditions suspected
to be diphtheria, but finally diagnosed as follows:—7, tonsilitis;
1, Vincent's angina; 1, laryngitis; and 1, measles.
11 deaths, including Penge cases, occurred from diphtheria at
the Borough Hospital; 7 of these were suffering from the laryngeal
form of the disease.
The average duration of stay of diphtheria cases in hospital
was 47.7 days.
Tracheotomy was performed in 7 cases, with recovery in 2
instances; the majority were admitted at a very late stage of the
disease, 2 being moribund on admission, 3 dying subsequently of
heart failure.
Hospital Return Cases Diphtheria.
There were no hospital return cases of diphtheria during the
year.
Home Return Cases—Diphtheria.
No return cases were traced in connection with the few patients
treated at home.
4—SMALLPOX.
No cases occurred in Croydon during the year. A number of
patients suffering from conditions suggestive of smallpox were
seen in consultation with medical practitioners, and contact of cases
of smallpox reaching the various ports were kept under observation
on the basis of reports from the port authorities.
5.—CEREBRO-SPINAL MENINGITIS.
2 cases were notified during the year, but after admission to
the Borough Hospital were found to be suffering, in one case from
encephalitis lethargica, in the other from an infection of the
kidney.
6.—ENCEPHALITIS LETHARGICA.
20 cases were notified, and 8 were admitted to the Borough
Hospital. The diagnosis was confirmed in 5 instances in respect
of the above admissions.