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14
THE FIFTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
on the
MUNICIPAL HOSPITAL
By ARTHUR G. TROUP, M.D., D.P.H.,
Medical Superintendent.
The total number of patients admitted to the Hospital during 1943 was 1,985, as compared with 1,678 in 1942.
Cerebro-Spinal Fever.
Seven cases of Cerebro-Spinal Fever were admitted to hospital during the year, and all recovered. Since the
introduction of the Sulphonamide drugs, the decline in the mortality rate in this disease has been striking, and this is
the first Annual Report in which no deaths have been recorded. During the past five years (1939-1943) we have
treated 62 cases with 4 deaths, giving a mortality rate of 6.4 per cent. During the previous 20 years (1919-1938) we
treated 55 cases with 22 deaths, a mortality rate of 40 per cent.
Diphtheria.
Only 72 cases of diphtheria were admitted to hospital during 1943. This is the lowest number recorded for the
past 25 years. From 1919 to 1939, the average number of cases admitted per annum was 363, but since the outbreak
of the War, this figure has dropped to 90. The 72 cases may be classified as follows: Faucial 39, Naso-Pharyngeal 6,
Nasal 18, Laryngeal 2, Aural 1, and Carriers 6. Both the Laryngeal cases had to have the operation of Tracheotomy
performed and both recovered. Two deaths occurred, giving a mortality rate of 3.0 per cent., the carrier cases being
excluded from this calculation.
Puerperal Infections.
The 12 Puerperal cases which were admitted to hospital were diagnosed as follows:—
Local Uterine Sepsis 1 Mastitis 3
Salpingitis 1 Mammary Abscess 7
No deaths occurred.
Scarlet Fever.
There was a large increase in the number of patients suffering from Scarlet Fever admitted during the year
—453—as compared with 290 for 1942. The great majority of these cases were of a mild type. One death occurred,
due to Purpura. An endeavour has been made to cut down the period of detention in hospital of the mild and
uncomplicated cases. It used to be the custom to detain all Scarlet Fever patients for a minimum period of 6 weeks,
and for the year 1926 the average length of the stay in hospital was 47.2 days. Later, the minimum detention period
was fixed at 28 days, and last year this was reduced to 21 days. 237 patients, or over 50 per cent. of the total admissions,
were discharged between the 21st and the 25th day, the average being 28.4 days. No criticism or complaint has been
received, either from the General Practitioners or from the parents of the patients.
Other Diseases.
Tonsillitis 64 Erythema 2
Chicken Pox 27 Anaemia 2
Rubella 21 Bacilluria
Sonne Dysentery 17 Anterior Poliomyelitis 1
Enteritis 8 Meningismus 1
Rhinitis 6 Mumps 1
Cellulitis 5 Catarrhal Jaundice 1
Bronchitis 4 Adenitis 1
Herpes 3 Influenza 1
Scabies 3 Pemphigus 1
Vincents Angina 3 Impetigo 1
Ophthalmia Neonatorum 3 Burn 1
Pemphigus Neonatorum 2 Dermatitis 1
Quinsy 2 Food Rash 1
Pneumonia 2 Drug Rash 1
Laryngitis 2 Stomatitis 1
General Exfoliative Dermatitis 2 Gingivitis 1
Tubercular Meningitis 2 Negative Cases 20
Total number: 216.
Five deaths occurred, 3 from Enteritis and 2 from Tubercular Meningitis.