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quite ineffective as a means of preventing the spread of the disease.
There appears to be a large number of individuals in the community
whose nose or throat is infected with the germ, though
they themselves are not actually suffering from the disease. These
Individuals ("carriers'') are the main source from which the
infection spreads, and unfortunately there are no reliable means
by which they can be definitely cured. There is, however, one
method by the employment of which there is great promise that
diphtheria can be stamped out; this is Schick testing and the
prophylactic inoculation of susceptible individuals. This method
is now used to protect the nursing staff, and since its employment
no nurse has so far contracted diphtheria. One or two unfortunate
accidents have occurred in other countries following the
inoculations, but in this country the prophylactic mixtures are
manufactured with such extreme care that any risk attached to
the method is practically negligible, and its employment for the
children of the Borough can be strongly recommended.
The total number of cases under treatment during the year
was 883. Of these, 731 were discharged recovered, 34 died, and
118 remained under treatment at the end of the year. Of the
cases discharged, 45 suffered from paralysis, which was severe in
18 cases and mild in 27.
Tracheotomy was performed in 44 cases on account of faucial
or laryngeal obstruction, and 11 of these proved fatal, giving a
fatality rate of 25 per cent. of the cases operated on.
Fatal Cases. The duration of illness of the 34 fatal cases
prior to admission averaged 3.75 days, and their average age was
4 years. The amount of antitoxin administered to the fatal cases
averaged 57,000 units, and the average amount given to all the
cases was 18,000 units. The average duration of residence for all
the cases was 40.19 days.
83 cases admitted as diphtheria proved to be wrongly diagnosed,
and were found after admission to be suffering from the
following complaints:—Tonsillitis 42, Laryngitis 14, Scarlet
Fever 13, Broncho-Pneumonia 7, Vincent's Angina 4, Quinsy 2,
Ulcerative Pharyngitis 1.
Typhoid Fever. 25 cases notified as typhoid fever were
admitted during the year. Of these, 12 proved to be suffering
from the disease, and 10 of them were from two families. 2 cases
died, giving a fatality rate of 16.66 per cent. The other 13 cases
were found after admission to be suffering from the following
complaints:—Enteritis 3, Pneumonia 2, Influenza 2, Colitis 1,
C erebro-sp;nal Meningitis 1, Septic Meningitis 1, Tubercular
Meningitis 1, Malignant Endocarditis 1, Carcinoma 1.
Measles. This disease was not prevalent during the year, nor
vvas it of a severe type. 19 cases were admitted, and of these, 18
were discharged recovered, and 1 died. The age of the fatal case
was 2 years. The disease was also present as a complication in
6 cases of scarlet fever and 1 case of diphtheria.
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