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to hospital of so many of the cases is a vast blessing to this
neighbourhood. I cannot see, however, that the full benefit of
our hospitals will be obtained unless all the cases are removed. It
is found in practice with the cases treated at home, that for the
first few days a medical man is in attendance, after that his services
are dispensed with on account of the expense. Before a month
has gone by, the patient and nurse are heartily tired of the
restrictions of isolation, and the Sanitary Authority is applied to
to have the house disinfected. If the Officers of the Authority
refuse after so short a time, the child, after a few days, is found
mixing with the other children, or playing at the back of the
house with its neighbours. Very often the child is found in the
street. After some experience in this matter, I am obliged to say
that, in my opinion, proper isolation at home in our houses is
impossible.
The same remarks are applicable to cases of Diphtheria.
diphtheria.
The deaths from this disease have slightly decreased in the year,
the number being 65 this year, and 71 last year—The total number
of cases notified was 331 this year, and 399 last year.
Deaths from Diphtheria during the last ten years—
1888 8 1893 93
1889 55 1894 61
1890 32 1895 52
1891 44 1896 71
1892 38 1897 65
The annual rate per 1,000 living was .53.
Of the 331 cases notified, 206 were removed to hospitals of the
Asylums Board, with 35 deaths : a mortality of 16.9 per cent.
125 were treated at home and in General Hospitals,with 30
deaths, a mortality of 24.0 per cent.