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53
INFECTIOUS DISEASES HOSPITAL.
Dr. Palmer's observations are contained in the following report
upon the work of the hospital :—
Preface.
During the year 1947, 256 cases were admitted to the Infectious
Diseases Hospital. The number of deaths were 11 giving a
mortality rate of 4.2%. During the last four months of the year
there was a small outbreak of virulent diphtheria, and the available
accommodation was very heavily taxed. A study of the final
table of admissions after correction for diagnosis reveals the wide
variety of cases treated.
Diphtheria, though much reduced in morbidity andVnortality,
still remains a killing disease and it is essential that the general
public be kept aware of its deadly nature and of the value of immunisation.
Scarlet Fever remains mild in type, but Whooping
Cough still takes its toll of young children. Though the value of
immunisation here is not so marked as in Diphtheria, nevertheless
I am of the opinion that it is worth doing, as it appears to minimise
the severity of the disease. Parents must be made to realise the
seriousness of whooping cough and that much chest and heart
illness in later life is often due to a severe attack of whooping
cough in infancy.
Gastro Enteritis in infants and acute poliomyelitis are serious
diseases and cases should be hospitalised as soon as suspected.
Diphtheria.
Number of notified cases 70
Revision of diagnosis 26
Acute Streptococcal Tonsillitis 17
Scarlet Fever 2
Non-Diphtheritic Laryngitis 2
Whooping Cough 1
Cheiropompholyx l
Cervical Adenitis l
Post Tonsillectomy l
Glandular Fever l
Final Number of Diphtheria Cases 44
Uncomplicated cases 33
Complicated cases 11
Deaths 2