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75
Diphtheria Antitoxin.
Boxes containing Sterile Antitoxin, syringe and the necessary
dressings, etc., are kept at the two Police Stations so as to be available
in case of emergency.
During 1927, 9 vials of Antitoxin of 8,000 units each were supplied
to medical practitioners.
Enteric Fever.
There were 17 cases notified during the year, the majority of
which were Para-typhoid B. One death was recorded from this
disease.
Para-typhoid fever mostly of the B. type forms a definite and
baffling problem which appears so far to be without solution.
During 1927, cases of the Enteric group were notified as follows :
Case No. 1 occurred in the south-easterly corner of the district
in a large house occupied by a professional man and his family, the
patient being the wife of the house-holder.
In the next case the patient was about 15, the case occurring
about the centre of the district.
In both these eases there was a history of water-cress, and an
interesting feature in the first case was that the water-cress was
given to four tame birds. Two of these ate the water-cress and two
would not touch it. The two that ate it both died of acute enteritis.
In view of the fact that some Authorities consider that bacillus
psittacosis is identical with bacillus para-typhosus this brought
water-cress strongly under suspicion.
,About the same time that these cases occurred, I was called in
in consultation to see a doubtful case, which despite the fact that
it gave no typhoid reaction, had every appearance of para-typhoid.
In this case also there was a history of water-cress being consumed.
The case had been seen by one of the best-known London
Consulting Physicians. I ascertained from him that he "was unable
to come to any definite opinion as to the nature of her attack. I