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The relatively high proportion of tonsillitis and cervical adenitis was
due to a mild infection going round two wards at a time when the hospital
was over-full. Investigations were made as to the cause of this infection and
in the course of these investigations it was found that both a wardmaid and
one of the night nurses, although apparently healthy, had germs in their
throats which might have caused the infection. These two members of the
staff were treated and were transferred to another part of the hospital
until they ceased to be infective.
Stay in Hospital.
The average duration of stay in the hospital was as follows:—Scarlet
fever 40 days; Diphtheria 43 days.
During the latter part of the year, in accordance with the recommendations
of the Ministry of Health, a much shorter minimum period was
allowed for the retention of cases of scarlet fever. In spite of this the resulting
number of return cases (i.e. the number of cases from the same
household occurring within 28 days of the patient's discharge from the hospital)
remained about the same, or was if anything, slightly less.
Laboratory Work.
The laboratory work for the hospital continues to be done by the
Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine. During the year, the following
examinations were performed:—
Table No. 42.
Swabs for Diphtheria bacilli 470
Swabs for virulence tests for diphtheria 3
Haemolytic streptococci 6
Cerebro spinal fluid 1
Blood for organisms 1
The need of the addition of a cubicle isolation block (also referred to
on page 47) is still very acute and this was especially obvious during the autumn
of 1934 when in addition to cases of diphtheria there was a mild throat infection.
The Council however has decided to go ahead with the erection of
a cubicle block as soon as the position with regard to the County scheme for
infectious disease accommodation is clear. Meanwhile in cases of overcrowding
there are arrangements by which any sick staff may be transferred
to isolation hospitals belonging to neighbouring local authorities, and there
are also arrangements by which any cases which we cannot take in may also
be so transferred if accommodation is available for them elsewhere.
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