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The largest numbers were admitted during the months of
October (33), January (32), Decernber (31), May (27), February (25),
and November (22) (see Table "C").
COMPLICATIONS.
Time of Onset.—As stated previously, 27 cases with complications
present on admission did not develop any further
complication during their treatment in the Isolation Hospital.
In Table "C" 1 have tabulated 239 complications under
headings showing time of onset during the period of stay in hospita l.
It will be noted that 23 per cent. of these complications were present
on admission; and that a higher percentage occurred during the
third and fourth weeks of their stay than during their first and
second weeks.
Possible Relation of Incidence to Meteorological Conditions.
Complications were highest during December and in the months
of January to March.
In this connection 13 out of a total of 14 cases of bronchitis
occurred during the periods January to March and September to
December (actually six cases in December alone). It is true, however,
that—excepting September and early October—overcrowding
was worst during these periods of adverse weather conditions in
1935. During the summer months, and provided that the rainfall
is not unduly prevalent, it is always possible to nurse scarlet fever
convalescents on the verandahs attached to each ward—a valuable
therapeutic measure which is not available during the winter months.
(1) Nephritis, Initial and Late Albuminuria.
During 1935 there was a considerable diminution in the number
of patients with this complication as compared with the year 1934.
Excluding seven cases of initial albuminuria, there were 20 patients
with nephritis and late albuminuria during 1935, i.e., 15 per cent.
of all complicated cases or 7 per cent. of all admissions.
In this connection there were four cases of late albuminuria
in which either scarlet fever antitoxin or anti-diphtheritic serum,
or both, had been administered prior to the appearance of the
albuminuria. Details of these cases arc:—
(a) Late albuminuria of 9 days duration occurred 2 days
after the administration of anti-diphtheritic serum.