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is it possible to give suitable treatment. The laryngeal cases
are often very difficult to diagnose in the early stages, and it
is those that give rise to the most trouble. Tracheotomy
was performed in four of these with one death. From this
it will be seen that in case of doubt it is better to consider
the case one of Diphtheria rather than to wait until the
diagnosis is more certain and the risk to life much greater.
A bacteriological examination is made of all these patients
before leaving the Hospital so as to send them out without
fear of carrying the specific bacillus about as far as possible.
The result of these examinations are given under the
Bacteriological Laboratory heading at the end of this
section. These include too, of course, examinations of many
cases on their entry who appear to be doubtful on the
clinical evidence.
ENTERIC FEVER.
Only one case of Enteric Fever was admitted during
the year. The diagnosis was by no means clear, but a
Widal was not made. The patient did well and no complication
of any sort supervened.
ERYSIPELAS.
Four cases of this disease were admitted during the
year. They were admitted where the home circumstances
were such that adequate attention could not be received.
They all did well and made a good recovery.
PHTHISIS.
At the end of the year application was received from the
Essex County Council for 6 beds for these patients under
the National Insurance Act, at 30s. per bed per week. The
Council agreed to the application and applied to the Local
Government Board for permission, which was granted until