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17
On two occasions during the year has the accommodation of the
Hospital been curtailed. In June, owing to the occurrence of Measles
in the Male Scarlet Fever Ward, no further admissions were made
until the danger of infection had ceased.
In August the disastrous fire which occurred in the Laundry Block
necessitated the use of the smallest Scarlet Fever Block as a Temporary
Laundry, and as the Discharge-Room had been damaged by the fire,
neither the admission nor discharge of patients could be freely carried
out. It fortunately happened, however, that the Wards were not at
that time fully occupied, and although the repairs were not completed
until October, a number of the more urgent cases of Scarlet Fever
were admitted in the meantime.
The Laundry Block has been re-built in brick, and is now a very
substantial building.
A new Ambulance, having the latest improvements, is now at the
Hospital, and is to be put into use when the state of the roads adjacent
to the Hospital will permit.
I may mention that at an early date in the coming year, the electric
light is to be installed throughout the buildings, thus minimising the
risk of fire, and also adding considerably to the convenience of such a
building.
Investigations are being made as to the form of Disinfector that
would be most suitable to this District, and I hope that we shall soon
have one established at the Hospital.
MEMBRANOUS CROUP.
There have been only 13 cases notified, as compared with 18 last
year, and no deaths have occurred.
TYPHOID FEVER.
There have been 21 fewer cases notified this year than last. There
have, however, been more deaths, and the rate of mortality is consequently
increased.
September and October were the months when the disease was most
evident, and over 70% of the total cases occurred during the last five
months of the year.