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18
It is a pity that this year I cannot report a great improvement in
the number of admissions to the Scarlet Fever Hospital, but at the
same time, nearly 50 per cent. were treated there. There is still room
for improvement in the matter of accommodation, particularly in the
period August to October, during which present arrangements are
insufficient adequately to cope with the applications for admission.
While on this subject I should like to emphasise the fact that with
more admissions to the Scarlet Fever Hospital than had ever been the
case before, but a single fatal case occurred, while in the Diphtheria
Hospital. the extremely satisfactory record of only 4 deaths out of 50
admissions has to be noticed, and 2 out of these were admitted in an
almost moribund condition, one living but two hours and the other four
days. Most of these cases under both headings came from the poorer
and less healthy classes, who were therefore much less able to fight
disease than individuals of greater stamina would have been. As
regards Diphtheria, the cases were generally several days advanced
before they were brought to our ken; a most vital point this, as antitoxin
to be of the first service must, as I have pointed out before, be
used at the earliest possible opportunity. Indeed, if Diphtheria cases
were at once treated with anti-toxin, it is my opinion that hardly any
cases would end fatally.
Regarding Diphtheria however, I am glad to be able to notice an
improvement in the number of cases treated in Hospital. Whereas
last year 48 out of 185 notified cases were brought to Hospital, this
year 50 out of 150 were sent for treatment.
The most valuable addition to the appurtenances of each ward
has been the addition of six appliances in the shape of a chemical
Extinctor, known as "the Perfection," which can easily be worked by
the nurses, and is very valuable as a first aid machine.
In concluding my remarks upon Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria, I
give a table showing number of cases notified, and number admitted
into the Hospital during the eight years of its most valuable existence.