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62
It is instructive to make a few general comparisons with last
year, viz., 1907, and first it is to be noted that the total number of
cases admitted in 1908 in the case of both Scarlet Fever and
Diphtheria corresponding with the cases in the whole district has
shown a satisfactory decrease thus:—
Total number
admitted 1907.
Total number
admitted 1908.
Scarlet Fever
358
236
Diphtheria
96
77
On the other hand the fatality in the case of Scarlet Fever in
1907 was 1.7; in 1908 it was 2.8.
The most pleasing and satisfactory feature of all is the great
reduction in the Diphtheria fatality, which in 1907 was 14.9, whilst
in 1908 it was only 6.6.
This is to be explained in one of two ways (the treatment not
having varied in the two years), viz., either a milder type of the
disease or our getting the case earlier, which latter means more
prompt diagnosis on the part of the outside doctors, and a greater
readiness on the part of the public to send for a doctor immediately
a child shows any throat illness.
In all the five deaths which have occurred the parents had let
the disease run on until too late before sending for professional
advice.