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In four instances some other infectious disease was found to
be present.
Of the cases admitted for treatment, the number of deaths
was 19, giving; a total death-rate for completed cases of 10.6 per
cent, as compared with 8.8 per cent. for last year.
Of the fatal cases, five were hæmorrhagic—a particularly fatal
type of the disease.
Many cases called for large amounts of antitoxin and 52
patients received from 50,000 to 144,000 units In many instances
this was given intravenously in order to afford immediate benefit.
As I have previously pointed out, many of the patients were
late in coming under treatment and exhibited severe infection upon
admission. In many instances, the infection was extremely
virulent in type with rapid growth of membrane and profound
toxaemia. Such cases are less responsive to treatment and in
debilitated infants and children of grave import.
Tracheotomy was performed in two cases.
In toxic and febrile cases, antistreptococcic serum was
administered in conjunction with diphtheria antitoxin, often with
marked effect.
The age incidence of the patients admitted was as follows:—
Years 0-5 5-10 10-15 15+ Total
47 85 24 20 176
Scarlet Fever.
The number of patients admitted during the year was 569
(including 16 cases where other infectious illness was found to be
present) compared with 580 for 1932.
141 patients remained under treatment at the end of the year
1932.
There were five deaths, the mortality rate being 0.9 per cent.,
as compared with 0.16 per cent. for the previous year.
Seven mastoid and two myringotomy operations were
performed by the Visiting Surgeon. All the patients recovered.
Several patients exhibited a moderate degree of albuminuria.
With one or two exceptions, all recovered completely with hospital
treatment.