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23rd and 25th May and examined the children, and certain ones
were excluded. After these steps, delayed unfortunately so
long, eight cases occurred, but all were secondary cases with
one exception, i.e. only one home was invaded which had not
already been affected.
I learnt afterwards that two of the children excluded were
found to have the Diphtheria Bacillus in their throat. I visited
the home of one of these, and warned the mother as to keeping
her children away from school, and as to disinfection of the
mouth and throat; but the other child had been moved from
the locality before I heard of the exclusion.
34. One of the cases at Abbey Wood occurred in a gipsy's
tent. A magisterial order was obtained for removal to hospital,
but was disobeyed. A summons was issued, and a fine of 20s.
and 2s. costs inflicted, but I failed to obtain removal to Hospital.
35. Bacteriological Diagnosis.—The throat secretions of 19
doubtful cases were examined by the Jenner Institute. Eight
were found to be cases of Diphtheria. In one the pseudo
diphtheria bacillus was found. In 1899 15 cases were bacteriologically
examined, and two were found to be Diphtheria.
It is to be regretted that more doctors do not avail themselves
of this mode of diagnosis, the use of which would often enable
the proper treatment to be applied earlier, and prevent the risk
to the patient and loss of credit to the doctor which is incurred
by sending a non-infectious patient to the Fever Hospital. The
diagnosis of Diphtheria in five of the cases sent to hospital was
considered erroneous by the Asylums Board's Medical Officers.
This is a very small proportion compared with other districts of
London. It is curious to find that two of the supposed erroneous
diagnoses were cases in which the Jenner Institute had
found the diphtheria bacillus present.