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49. 370 cases, or 93 per cent. of total notifications, were
removed to hospital, compared with 89, 81, 92, and 81, per
cent, in the four preceding years. A certificate of efficient
home isolation was given in one case, compared with 7, 1,
1, 3, and 12, in the five preceding years.
The case mortality was 7.0 per cent., compared with 5 5,
10.4, 3.4, 5.4, and 5.2, in the five preceding years.
Many of the cases were very mild, and in several cases
there were no throat symptoms, but discharge or soreness
of the nose. Such cases rarely have medical attendance,
and would escape detection if other cases in the family or
school did not lead to a search for the source of infection.
The search for, and detection of, these nasal cases is one of
the most important duties of the Public Health Department.
In addition to the notified cases (many of which never
complained of illness), 5 (66 in 1912) cases were found to
be carriers of the infection in their throat or nose without
having any symptoms. 15 carrier cases, with or without
slight symptoms, were discovered by your Medical Officer of
Health. The usual steps were taken—school absentees were
visited and medical attention obtained; children in affected
classes were medically and bacteriologically examined, as
were also a large number of contacts and suspected cases,
and all cases found to be infectious strictly isolated.
50. A table giving details as to cases notified, cases
bacteriologically examined, and deaths, was published in the
Annual Report for 1912. The large number of cases with
Klebs Loffler bacillus but no symptoms during that year was
noteworthy. Last year the number of purely bacteriological
cases was much lower, and the fatality of notified cases
higher.