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69
THE THIRTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT
FOR THE
Year ending 31st December, 1929,
ON THE
MUNICIPAL HOSPITAL
By A. G. TROUP, M.D., D.P.H.
During 1929, 955 patients were admitted as compared with 1,037 in 1928, 767 in 1927, 846
in 1926, 601 in 1925 and 626 in 1924.
Scarlet Fever.
During the past year 454 cases of this disease were admitted as compared with 453 cases during
1928. No deaths occurred. The great majority of the cases were of a mild or moderate nature,
the septic type of the disease being rarely seen.
In previous annual reports reference was made to the treatment of scarlet fever by a specific
antitoxin. It is generally agreed that in suitable cases the treatment is a beneficial one, and it is
now given as a matter of routine. During the current year 235 patients received serum treatment.
Diphtheria.
347 cases were admitted or 7 less than the previous year. These cases may be classified as
follows:—
Faucial 264, Nasal 54, Faucial and Nasal 16, Faucial and Laryngeal 5, Laryngeal 3,
Aural 1, Bacteriological 4.
Four cases were tracheotomied of which 3 recovered and 1 died. The total number of deaths from
diphtheria was 12 giving a mortality rate of 3.45 per cent. The mortality rate if calculated on the
number of cases under treatment during 1930 is 2.85 per cent. These rates are considerably lower
than the mortality rate for the country as a whole.
Mixed Infections.
The following cases of mixed infections occured:—
Scarlet Fever and Whooping Cough 3
Diphtheria and Rubella 1
Other Diseases.
160 patients were admitted under this heading as follows:—
Tonsillitis 34
Rubella 31
Whooping Cough 22
Erysipelas 15
Bronchitis 5
Ophthalmia Neonatorum 3
Pneumonia 2
Pleurisy 2
Puerperal Fever 2
Acute Nephritis 2
Rhinitis 2
Laryngitis 1
Laryngitis and Pneumonia 1
Meningitis 1
Polio-encephalitis 1
Ten deaths occurred:—
Erysipelas 3
Meningitis 1
Whooping Cough 1
Broncho-pneumonia 1
Post-encephalitic fits 1
Pemphigus Neonatorum 1
Cellulitis 1
Dacryocystitis 1
Impetigo 1
Mastoiditis 1
Cystitis 1
Quinsy 1
Gastritis 1
Post-Influenzal Debility 1
Erythema 1
Pulmonary Tuberculosis 1
Dermatitis 1
Teething rash 1
Negative cases 12
Pulmonary Tuberculosis 1
Puerperal Fever 1
Polio-encephalitis 1
Laryngitis and Pneumonia 1