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42
A sixth occupant fell ill with exactly the same symptoms,
and 10 days later a seventh case occurred with severe headache.,
sore throat, a high temperature, and swollen glands.
No vomiting or rash.
These cases were most carefully enquired into, but no
evidence of scarlet fever could be detected or any signs of
diphtheria.
Another instance of an apparent infective illness running
through a family occurred during the summer. The children
and the mother fell ill almost at the same time. All suffered
from severe sore thoat, and the children were also affected
with considerable vomiting. There was no rash in any case,
and the diagnosis of Scarlet Fever could not be made, nor was
there, any evidence of diphtheritic infection, but the children,
however, suffered from otorrhœa.
Diphtheria and Croup.
87 cases were notified during the year. The weeks in
which they occurred are shown on the chart. Like the Scarlet
Fever cases, these were scattered throughout the district.
Although a large percentage of the primary cases occurred
among children attending the public elementary schools, it
did not appear that the latter played much part in spreading
the infection. The 87 cases represent infection in 71 houses,
as 16 of the cases were "secondary." 63 of the cases were
removed to hospital, which equals 72.4 per cent. of the number
notified. In the majority of instances the diagnosis was
verified by bacteriological examination.
One death occurred during the year, this giving a fatality
rate of 1.14 per cent. of all cases notified.
Provision of Diphtheria Antitoxin.
A supply of Antitoxin is kept at the Public Health Offices,
where it can be obtained at any hour, day or night. The
immense importance of the prompt use of this remedy in the
treatment of Diphtheria cannot be over estimated, statistics
furnishing overwhelming proof of the increase in fatality the