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23 deaths occurred among; the 679 proved faucial or nasal
cases discharged, giving a fatality rate of 3.38 per cent. which
compares with 3.02 per cent. in the previous year. The duration
of illness of these cases on admission averaged 3.87 days, their
average age was 5.57 years, and the duration of their residence in
hospital averaged 4.52 days. The amount of antitoxin administered
to them averaged 91,000 units. The average amount of
antitoxin given to all the cases was 17,360 units.
Corrected Diagnosis:—89 cases notified as diphtheria proved
to be wrongly diagnosed, and were found after admission to be
suffering from the following complaints:—Tonsillitis, 59; Laryngitis,
11; Bronchitis, 5; Quinsy, 2; Vincent's Angina, 1; Ulcerative
Pharyngitis, 2; Abscess of neck, 1; Measles, 2; Scarlet
Fever, 1; Marasmus, 1; Pneumonia, 3; Influenza, 1.
The average duration of residence of all the cases was 38.46
days.
Typhoid Fever.
Only 5 proved cases were under treatment during the year.
One case had been in residence at the beginning of the year and 1
case admitted as scarlet fever proved to be suffering from the disease.
8 other cases were notified as typhoid fever, and 3 of them
proved after admission to be correctly diagnosed. Of the 5 true
cases, 2 were suffering from para-typhoid B. All recovered. The
other 5 cases were found after admission to be suffering from the
following complaints —Br. Pneumonia, 1; Enteritis, 1; Constipation,
1; Stomatitis, 1; Appendicitis, 1.
Measles.
Few cases were admitted until towards the end of the year,
when an epidemic of the disease appeared in the district. 6 cases
notified as scarlet fever, and 4 cases notified as laryngeal diphtheria
were found on admission to be suffering from measles. The
disease was also present with scarlet fever in 2 cases, and with
diphtheria in 4 cases. The total number of cases under treatment
was 20, and of these, 12 were discharged recovered, 2 died, and 6
remained under treatment at the end of the year.
Whooping Cough.
This disease proved troublesome during the earlier part of the
year. 17 severe cases, complicated by broncho-pneumonia, were
admitted, and 9 of these proved fatal. 4 cases notified as scarlet
fever and 12 cases notified as diphtheria were found after admission
to be suffering also from whooping cough, and 6 patients in
one of the diphtheria wards were infected from this source; 1 of
these proved fatal. The average age of the fatal cases was 2
years. All the cases were under 6 vears.
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