View report page

58
bacilli of Hoffman. These pseudo-cases have been in this
way discovered and isolated, and the disease prevented
thereby from spreading from person to person. There is
still doubt as to the true significance of the presence of these
pseudo-bacilli of Hoffman, it being held by some that they
are apt to develop into the Klebs-Loeffler Diphtheria bacilli or
vice-versd under certain favourable conditions—a view which
has received apparent confirmation in connection with two
outbreaks of Sore-throats at two large schools in the Borough
of Lambeth. The first outbreak occurred in 1900—1901,
and out of a total of 137 scholars, bacteriological examinations
shewed the presence of Kleb-Loeffler Diphtheria
bacilli in four, and the pseudo-bacilli of Hoffman in 38. The
four cases of Diphtheria were at once sent to hospital,
whilst the 38 pseudo-patients were isolated in the infirmary
belonging to the school, but distinct and away from the
main building, and not allowed to return to the main building
until successive bacteriological examinations of their
throats and noses failed to shew the presence of the pseudobacilli
of Hoffman. It is interesting to note that KlebsLoefffer
Diphtheria bacilli were obtained from the slimy
deposits in the waste pipes of the lavatory basins in the dormitories,
and in the outlets of the open rectangular troughs
beneath the basins.
The other outbreak was connected with a school of 600
children, of whom 64 shewed in their throats and noses the
presence of the Klebs-Loeffler Diphtheria bacilli, whilst 176
shewed the presence of the pseudo-bacilli of Hoffman. The
64 cases of Diphtheria were at once sent to hospital, whilst
the 176 pseudo-patients were isolated in the Special Isolation
Block and Infirmary belonging the school, but distinct
and away from the main building. In this case, as in the
other, these pseudo-patients were not allowed to return to
the main building of the school until successive bacteriological
examinations of their throats and noses failed to shew
the presence of the pseudo-bacilli. Vincent's organisms
were also found in five cases—in two, in pure cultivation, and, in
three, in conjunction with Klebs Loeffler bacilli.
Necessary disinfection was carried out as required.
In both instances, the results justified the means taken, as
the outbreaks of Diphtheria and pseudo-Diphtheria have
been successfully stamped out. There can be but little