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Only one of these cases had received antitoxin, and this was a
small dose, before admission. The doctor had apparently waited
for bacteriological confirmation of the diagnosis before sending
the patient into hospital. The other deaths were due to delay
on the part of the parents in sending for medical advice until the
disease was well advanced.
Cross infection. One case of diphtheria was cross infected
with scarlet fever while in the ward.
There were no return cases.
The average duration of stay in hospital for diphtheria cases
was 36 days.
Puerperal Fever.—Six cases were admitted with this
diagnosis and were found to be suffering from the following puerperal
conditions :—
Mastitis 1
Sapraemia. 2
Septicaemia 2
Pyelitis 1
Two died, one from septicaemia and lobar pneumonia and the
other from a cerebral embolism.