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26
Diphtheria and Membranous Croup. The latter, Membranous
Croup, is only an old-fashioned phrase for Diphtheria, presenting
symptons mostly confined to the larynx. I received notifications of 158 cases
during the year, compared with 95, 93 and 37, in 1907-6-5, and represents
an attack rate of 2.26 per thousand of the population. The cases occurred
in 75 streets and 121 houses; one case occurred in 97 houses; two cases in
15 houses; three cases in 6 houses; and four cases in 2 houses. The cases
removed to hospital numbered 124, being 78.48 per cent of those notified.
There were 27 deaths, giving a death - rate of 0.44 per thousand of the population,
and a fatality of 17.08 per cent, of those notified.
I regret to report that Edmonton has not maintained its good reputation
with regard to the incidence of Diphtheria. As you will see, the number
•of cases notified is 63 more than in 1907, although the fatality percentage is
less.
Return Cases.—See " Hospital Section."
Enteric Fever. Thirty-six cases were notified, as against 29,
25 and 44, in 1907-6-5. This is equal to an attack rate of 0.59 per thousand
of the population. These cases occurred in 30 houses and 27 streets.
Two of the cases were inmates of the Edmonton Infirmary, one of whom
was a person from Waltham Abbey. The removals to our hospital numbered
24—an isolation percentage of 66.66; there were 6 deaths, giving a fatality
of 16.66 per cent, of the cases notified, and a death-rate of 0.09 per thousand
of the population. The man from Waltham Abbey also died.
Careful enquiries were made into every case reported, with a view to
ascertaining the source of infection.
Owing to the fact that Enteric Fever is invariably conveyed by the
mouth, and in most cases through the agency of contaminated food and drink,
special enquiries were made as to those articles of diet—such as shell - fish,
fried fish, water - cress, etc.—that are most liable to contamination by the
organism of this disease. It was found that among the 36 cases reported,
one had been an habitual shell-fish eater, and had partaken of this food in
some form at a date that admitted of its being reasonably entertained as a
possible source of infection. Nine patients had eaten fried fish under
similar circumstances, and there was a history of two patients having eaten
water-cress. In one case shell-fish and fried fish were the favourite articles
of diet; in two cases, shell-fish and water-cress, and in two cases fried fish and
water-cress.