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PLAISTOW HOSPITAL.
Report of Medical Superintendent.
(Dr. D. Maclntyre.)
The total number of cases under treatment during 1929 was
2,190, which is 119 less than in the previous year. The general
type of disease was, however, slightly more severe and the total
number of deaths was a little higher.
Scarlet Fever admissions showed a small increase over the
number of the previous year, but the Hospital returns do not give
a true indication of the prevalence of this disease in the Borough
as the accommodation was not sufficient during the winter months
to admit all the cases notified. Most of the cases were of the prevailing
mild type.
Diphtheria numbers were down as compared with the previous
year, the admissions being 741 as compared with 901 in 1928.
The number of deaths, however, was higher than in 1928. The
present practice among practitioners of swabbing all suspicious
throats has not resulted in any improvement either in the prevalence
or the fatality rate of the disease. (See under Diphtheria).
Whooping Cough was prevalent during the first four months
of the year, and some cases notified as scarlet fever or diphtheria
were found after admission to be suffering also from this disease.
Several patients were infected in the wards by these cases.
An epidemic of measles appeared in the Borough towards the
end of the year and cases incubating the disease began to be
admitted.
Typhoid cases were few and there were no deaths.
At the beginning of 1929 there were 241 cases in residence.
1,949 cases were admitted during the year, making the total of
2,190 cases under treatment. Of these, 1,889 were discharged
recovered, 59 died, and 242 remained under treatment at the end
of the year.
The chief causes of death are briefly summarised as follows—
Scarlet Fever caused 5 deaths.
Diphtheria caused 33 ,,
Whooping Cough caused 9 ,,
Pneumonia caused 5 ,,
Measles caused 2 ,,
Erysipelas caused 1 ,,
Other Cases caused 4 ,,
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The fatality rate, calculated on all the cases admitted during
the year, was 3.02 per cent.
In Table I. there is shown the admissions and deaths during
each month of the year.
Table II. shows the annual admissions
and deaths from the principal diseases since the Hospital was
opened.
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