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51. Mistaken Diagnosis. 77 cases, or 19 per cent, of
notifications were, after removal to hospital, stated to be not
diphtheria. The percentage of the four preceding years was
10, 10, 15, and 11, respectively.
52. Source of Infection. In 79 cases a probable source
of infection was noted, viz.: In 31, other inmates of the
house were known or suspected to be the source; in 22,
schools; 14, neighbours and friends; 4, return cases; 1, general
hospital; and in 6 the infection was due to the Fever Hospital.
In two of the returned cases there were so to nares or
rhinorrhoea on discharge, and a bacteriological examination
showed the presence of diphtheria bacilli. In the other two
the bacteriological examination was negative.
53. Bacteriological Diagnosis. In January, 1913, I recommended
that the Council's bacteriological work should be
given to the Bacteriological Department of the Seamen's
Hospital, Greenwich, and this was done. That Hospital being
much nearer than the Lister Institute, the results of examinations
can be obtained more quickly. The Seamen's Hospital
is fully equipped for this work, and the new arrangement has
worked satisfactorily. 921 (1,231 in 1912) swabs were sent
to the Seamen's Hospital and Lister Institutes to be examined
in the presence of diphtheria bacilli. In 85 (320
in 1912) the true Klebs Loffler bacillus was found; in
67 (128 in 1912) Hoffman's bacillus was found, and 769
were found free from either the Klebs Loffler bacillus or
Hoffman's.
Of the 921 swabs examined, 327 were taken from school
children by myself. Of these, 16 contained the true Klebs