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enteritis, were admitted in the early part of the year. The provision
of an oxygen tent will, it is hoped, do something to alleviate
the symptoms in these severe cases, and may even be instrumental,
in certain instances, in saving life.
Diphtheria.
During 1936, 142 patients were admitted compared with 250
during 1935. Of this number 105 were faucial, 30 nasal, 5
laryngeal, and 2 aural. Eleven patients remained under treatment
at the end of 1936.
As already stated, in most instances the infection was of low
virulence, but severe cases occurred. Completed cases totalled
148. The number of deaths of cases treated at this hospital was
five, giving a death rate of 3.4% as compared with 4.3% in ,1935.
Tracheotomy was performed in two cases. In the first case
the patient died as a result of continued obstruction, while in the
second case the patient died two days after the operation as a
result of heart failure. The remaining three deaths were due to
the following conditions:—
1. Cardiac failure complicated by broncho-pneumonia and
marasmus.
2. Cardiac failure complicated by broncho-pneumonia and
measles.
3. Acute myocarditis following haemorrhagic diphtheria.
There were several cases of recovery following severe and
prolonged paralysis, notably the case of a boy of six years who
developed, in addition, a severe degree of heart block with a pulse
rate of 28 per minute. He was transferred to a heart hospital
where he remained under treatment for several months.
The age incidence of the patients admitted was as follows :—
0—5 5—10 10—15 15+ Total
40 59 21 22 142
Scarlet Fever.
During the year, 320 cases were admitted compared with 344
cases during 1935. Fourteen patients remained under treatment