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swab; re-admitted for six weeks. Infected the only
remaining children—the first, female 8. onset 15th day
after return home; second, a female of 2, onset 28th day
2. Female 4, removed 1st day. in hospital 26 days—onset of
return case 15th day—swab negative—two other children
unaffected.
3. Male 6, removed 5th day, in hospital 47 days. Return case
female 2, onset 15th day; only remaining child. Swab
of infecting case positive, re-admitted for six weeks.
4. Male 6, removed 4th day, in hospital 55 days. Return case,
male 3, onset 18th day. Of two other children in the house
one had a typical nose, but negative swab. The other bad
rhinorrhoea, with previous history of sore throat, hcadache,
etc. Probably this infecting case infected all three of the
children, or one handed it on to the other. Swabs of all
were negative.
5. Male 8, removed 4th day, in hospital 39 days. The return
case was the mother—onset 15th day, no other children in
the house.
6. Male 9, removed third day, in hospital 22 days. First
case, male 17, onset 16th day, the second—an adult
female, onset 18th day, she was a ? return case and:
secondary from the first return case.
The interest lies in the fact that these cases were at home
before removal 3, 1, 5, 4, 4, 3 days without giving rise to
infection, and yet caused it on return home. Possibly during
the stay in hospital they acquired a more infectious organism,
or possibly it is due to the fact that the children were ill before
removal, and so less likely to expose others to infection.
Death Rate.
16 deaths (11 male, 5 female) from Diphtheria occurred
in the course of the year, two being patients infected in 1927
all who had it in 1928 have since recovered.
The case mortality accordingly is 1%. Five of these cases
were Laryngeal Diphtheria. The others were removed 10
hospital, one on second day from onset, three on the third day
and the remaining five on or after the fifth day.
Schick Testing and Immunisation.
In the latter part of the year the Council authorised arrangements
to be made whereby those parents who so desire show
have their children immunised against Diphtheria. At the