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74
recovered exhibited severe cardiac weakness in varying form and
degree. Tracheotomy was performed on seven occasions.
Of 229 cases admitted as suffering from Scarlet Fever, one
patient succumbed to complications. The case mortality was
0.4 percent., compared with 1 per cent, for 1929. The complications
arising were as follows
Double Adenitis 56
Single Adenitis 54
Arthritis 1
Cardiac Arrhythmia 4
Rheumatism 3
Otorrhœa (severe) 8
Mastoid Abscess 1
Nephritis 2
Cases treated with anti-serum, 45.
Apart from the advantages to the community by less illness,
it was fortunate that during the time of rebuilding and enlargement
of the hospital the restricted accommodation was not overtaxed.
The adjustment of available beds to the requirements of
the community called for some ingenuity and caused no little
inconvenience to both nursing and domestic staff. Needless to
add a rebuilding scheme of this magnitude is rendered more
difficult when necessity may demand interference with its progress.
No patient suffering from Diphtheria was refused admission,
and in the majority of instances only a short delay, if any, supervened
in furnishing beds for cases of Scarlet Fever.
In order to comply with requirements of the Borough it is
necessary to provide a total accommodation of at least 150 beds,
which is one per 1,000 of the population.
The completed hospital with additional wards will permit
of 150 to 170 beds, that is allowing for a certain proportion of
convalescent cases, where less space is requisite than in acute
wards. Under these circumstances the accommodation should
meet present needs.
The arrangement of the wards in parallel series is ideal from
the point of view of management, and in allowing free play of air
between blocks.