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93
ERYSIPELAS.
Two cases of erysipelas were in hospital at the beginning
of 1937 and 29 notified as suffering from this disease were
admitted during the year. There were three deaths and 25
discharges, leaving three cases in hospital at the end of the
year.
One of the patients who died (a woman aged 37 years)
was not suffering from erysipelas but from cellulitis and
gangrene. Three blood transfusions were given in this case
but the patient died of general toxemia on the 7th day in
hospital.
Of the other two deaths, the first was that of a man aged
54 years who was suffering from erysipelas on admission and
who had a cerebral hæmorrhage on the 4th day in hospital
and died within a few hours. In the remaining case (that
of a woman aged 38 years who died on the 2nd day in hospital)
there was a history of the patient having received a blow prior
to the onset of her illness and the case was accordingly
referred to the Coroner, who decided to hold an inquest. A
verdict of "death due to erysipelas " was recorded.
Of the 25 discharged patients, 18 had been suffering from
erysipelas and one from concurrent erysipelas and scarlet
fever. The remaining 6 had been found on admission to be
suffering from the following conditions:—
Cellulitis 2
Erythema 1
Impetigo 1
Tinea cruris 1
Septic leg wound 1
The average stay in hospital of the recovered cases of
erysipelas (including the case of dual infection) was 20.8 days.
TYPHOID AND PARATYPHOID FEVER.
Five cases of supposed infection of the typhoid or paratyphoid
group were admitted during the year. One of these
patients who was found to be suffering from myeloid leukemia