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Diphtheria.—Apart from the 7 fatal cases met with during
the year, only 14 complications occurred among the remaining 211
cases of diphtheria receiving teatment. This gives a complication
rate of 6.6 per cent, as against 9.17 per cent, during ,1936 and
15.1 per cent, during 1935. The complications met with were as
follows:
Adenitis 1
Late Albuminuria 2
Double Otorrhoea 1
Left ,, 1
Right ,, 1
Ocular Paralysis 2
Palatal ,, 5
Endocarditis (mild) 1
14
This is by far the lowest complication rate recorded at the
hospital since such rates were first calculated. It is particularly
pleasing in view of the fact that the type of case admitted was more
severe than lias been the ca.se for many years.
Seven complications occurred among the remaining 111 case;
treated in hospital during 1937. In every instance, whether the
patients were suffering from scarlet, fever, diphtheria or othei
disease, the complications yielded to treatment and it was possibli
to discharge the patients in a. satisfactory condition.
Deaths.—Eleven deaths took place during the year, a.i
against 20 in 1936 and 17 in 1935. These deaths occurred fron
the following diseases :—
Diphtheria 7
Scarlet fever 1
Broncho-Pneumonia 1
Broncho-Pneumonia and Septicaemia 1
Influenza and Lobar Pneumonia 1
11
One patient, died within 6 hours of admission to hospital, and
several others within 48 hours. The death rate from diphtheria
was 3.2i per cent., as against 3.3 per cent, the previous year, a
figure which is again satisfactory in view of the severity of the
cases admitted. The death rate from pulmonary infections was
23.1 per cent., an illuminating, although tragic figure.
73