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49
Diphtheria.
It will be seen from the table on the previous page
that there has been a reduction in the incidence of
Diphtheria, there being 293 cases notified compared
with 337 for 1934. The age groups most affected are
those between the ages of one and 10 years. The figures
strengthen the argument in favour of active immunisation,
which is dealt with later in the report.
Of the total cases notified, 275 were admitted to
the Joint Hospital, 11 to other Isolation Hospitals and
four to other Hospitals. There has not been any
obstruction encountered when attempts have been made
to remove patients to hospital, the public are now
convinced that Diphtheria is a disease which essentially
should be treated in hospital. It is one of those diseases
in which, when complications arise and they are not
promptly dealt with by correct methods of treatment,
fatal results often ensue.
Death Rate.
The second table on the previous page shows that
21 deaths were registered as due to Diphtheria, giving a
case mortality of 7.16 per cent. This is considered to
be a remarkably low fatality rate; for the previous two
years the figure was approximately 10 per cent.
Secondary Cases.
There were 22 secondary cases, in two instances
lour occurred in one family and five in another.
One case was probably caused by contact with a case
admitted to a general hospital and primarily diagnosed
as Broncho-Pneumonia, but subsequently proved to be
one of Diphtheria.
1 wo cases were notified as having suffered from the
disease which they also contracted a few months
previously. These may be regarded as recurrent attacks.