View report page

43
The old hospital building is used exclusively for Scarlet
Fever patients. It has two wards, each containing four beds,
and a small ward in which are three beds; also a large day
ward for convalescents, in which in times of urgency six beds
can be placed. I endeavour, however, to keep the Convalescent
Ward exclusively for the use of convalescent patients, to
avoid these patients mixing continuously with the acute cases.
The entire accommodation at the Hospital is eight beds for
Diphtheria cases, eleven beds for Scarlet Fever cases, or
seventeen beds using the Convalescent Ward.
BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION.
During the year 61 bacteriological examinations in suspected
cases of Diphtheria have been made, as against 45 last
year.
My Council undertake to pay for such examinations
where the patients are not in a position to afford them.
Diphtheria Antitoxin is also supplied to all Medical
Practitioners resident in the district for use in necessitous
oases.
VACCINATION.
I am indebted to Mr. Taylor, the Registrar, for my
annual returns with regard to Vaccination for the year.
The newly included figures in the Vaccination Table are
for the year ended 31st December, 1913.
Of the 1004 births on the Registrar's list, 583 were successfully
vaccinatcd, 311 conscientious objection certificates
were obtained, and 41 died unvaccinated; 49 removed to other
districts, and three were postponed by medical certificates.
As in previous years, the number unvaccinated continues
to increase, forming an unprotected population in the event
of an epidemic of Smallpox. The continuous freedom from
any epidemic form of this disease has strengthened the prevailing
idea that protective measures are unnecessary, which
is a matter for much regret.