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These figures indicate that, although 1933 was a very quiet
year as regards diphtheria admissions to hospital, the percentage
of severe cases was the greatest during the last five years.
One child required surgical operation (tracheotomy) for
laryngeal obstruction due to diphtheria, and made a good recovery.
Deaths.— Four deaths due to diphtheria occurred in hospital
during the year, the following being the relevant particulars:—
No. Sex. Age. Cause of Death. In Hospital.
1. Female. 5 years. Hæmorrhagic diphtheria. 2 hours.
2. Female. 11 years. Diphtheria. 4 days.
3. Male. 4 years. Diphtheria. 5 days.
4. Female. 4 years. Diphtheria. 11 days.
In addition to the deaths shown above as due to diphtheria,
three persons died in the diphtheria wards of the hospital due to
causes other than diphtheria, the following being the relevant
particulars:—
No. Sex. Age. Cause of Death. In Hospital.
1. Female. 11 months. Broncho-pneumonia. 6 hours.
2. Male. 1 year 9 months. Broncho-pneumonia. 3 days.
3. Female. 36 years. Pneumonia. 1 day.
These three cases were all admitted to hospital in a moribund
condition by local medical practitioners who considered the symptoms
were compatible with a diagnosis of diphtheria ; but in each of
the three cases— as the result of further investigation (clinical and
bacteriological) in hospital— the original diagnoses of diphtheria
were not confirmed.