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77
10 deaths occurred :—
Septicaemia 1 Meningitis 1
Gastro-Enteritis 1 Acute Laryngitis 1
Poliomyelitis 1 (1) Marasmus 1
Acute Pemphigus 1 (2) Broncho-Pneumonia 2
Angina Maligna 1
(1) Admitted also suffering from Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
(2) Admitted also suffering from Nasal Diphtheria.
Sick Staff.
Six cases of infectious disease occurred amongst members of the Nursing Staff, namely, Scarlet
Fever, 2, Mumps 2, Erysipelas 1, Diphtheria 1.
One case of Scarlet Fever occurred amongst the Domestic Staff.
Duration of Stay in Hospital.
Scarlet Fever.
The average length of detention of Scarlet Fever patients in Hospital shows an increase from
last year. This is accounted for by an increase in the length of time some of the complicated cases
had to be kept in Hospital. For example, one case was detained for 215 days, and six for 142, 141,
136, 113, 113 and 106 days respectively.
Average stay in hospital of scarlet fever patients during recent years
1926 47.2 1934 33.3
1928 37 1935 37.6
1933 32.1
Diphtheria.
The average length of detention of diphtheria patients also shows an increase :—
1931 56.2 1934 42.1
1932 45.6 1935 46.5
1933 42
Other Diseases.
Average stay in hospital of patients suffering from "other diseases," 1932—1935 : —
1932 27.2 1934 22.6
1933 25.5 1935 27.7
Schick Test and Active Immunisation Against Diphtheria.
Nursing Staff.
Daring 1926 a commencement was made in Schick Testing the nursing Staff and immunising
those nurses who proved to be susceptible to diphtheria. Since that date 9 cases of diphtheria have
occurred, 1 in 1927, 1 in 1928, 1 in 1929, 2 in 1930, 1 in 1932, 2 in 1934 and 1 in 1935. The case which
occurred during 1935 illustrates how an immunised and Schick negative individual may contract
diphtheria as the result of a massive and highly virulent infection. The nurse in question had been
previously immunised and had given a negative Schick reaction. While on night duty she had to
remove to hospital a toxic case of diphtheria with much nasal discharge and to attend to the patient
until his death a few hours later. As a result of this exposure to infection she developed a moderately
severe faucial diphtheria, but no complications occurred.