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General Treatment.—Two major alterations in treatment were
instituted during the year. The first was the more extensive use
of Prontosil or one of its allied substances in the treatment of
infections due to the streptococcus pyogenes, the second being the
purchase of an oxygen tent. It has now been proved beyond dispute
that the former material acts in a specific manner against
streptococcal infection. Patients suffering from such diseases as
erysipelas, puerperal sepsis, septic scarlet fever and acute throat
infections receive very decided benefit from administration of the
drug, especially when such administration is combined with other
forms of treatment. The oxygen tent has proved invaluable in the
treatment, of pulmonary infections, and it is not too much to state
that several children's lives have been saved by its use. On several
occasions, while the tent was in use, it became necessary to hire a
second tent, and never has expenditure received better justification.
With the purchase of the oxygen tent, it seems possible to claim that
our hospital possesses equipment equal to any similar institution.
No parents need fear that apparatus necessary for the treatment
of acute infectious diseases will not be available for their children.
Apart from these additions, treatment followed mainly along
the lines of previous years, with certain improvements as regards
technique, material used, etc. As I have remarked before, the
treatment of infectious disease should never be static. Scientific discoveries
are being made from day to day, and, if we are to keep
abreast with the times, these discoveries must be harnessed to our
use.
Operations.—The following operations were performed during
the year:—
Appendicectomy (Scarlet Fever) 1
Tracheotomy (Diphtheria) 1
Tonsillectomy (Diphtheria "Carriers") 6
„ (Scarlet Fever) 1
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All the patients made a satisfactory recovery, and, in the case
of the diphtheria "carriers," it was possible to discharge the
patients free from bacilli.
In addition to the operations enumerated above, several minor
operations—mainly gland incisions—were performed, with satisfactory
results.
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