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36
The Medical Officers of the Royal Arsenal examined
employees from infected houses before allowing them to return
to work, and discovered several bacteriological or carrier cases.
Altogether 13 cases, found to be "carriers" of the diphtheria
bacillus, without having any symptoms, were notified.
53. Mistaken Diagnosis. 29 cases, or 8 per cent of notifications,
were, after removal to hospital, stated to be not
diphtheria. The percentage of the three preceding years was
14, 8, and 14, respectively.
54. Source of Infection. In 107 cases, a probable source of
infection was noted, viz., in 56, other inmates of the house were
suspected to be the source; in 30, schoolmates; 14, neighbours
and friends; 6, return cases; 1, a general hospital. The 6
return-cases followed 5 returned cases ; 4 of the returned cases
went away for Scarlet Fever, and one for Diphtheria. Two
were swabbed but no Diphtheria bacilli found.
55. For the third year in succession there was an outbreak
of Diphtheria in connection with Bostall Lane school, which
persisted intermittently for some three months, in spite of
repeated bacteriological examinations, the Easter holidays, and
the close of the whole school for two weeks. Several carrier
and mild cases attending school were detected and excluded,
and finally the disease abated.
A special enquiry into the cause of the recurrence at the
school was made by Dr. Thomson of the Local Government
Board, and Dr. Thomas of the L.C.C., but so far without
any light being thrown on the matter. One of the cases
which helped to spread the disease was a girl who had a slight