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PLAISTOW HOSPITAL.
Report of Medical Superintendent.
(Dr. D. Maclntyre).
The number of patients under treatment during 1932 was
2,047. This is an increase of 533 over the number treated in the
previous year. The total deaths numbered 128, which is more
than double that of the previous year.
The increase in cases was due to the prevalence of measles,
whooping cough and pneumonia. The total admissions from these
three diseases numbered 614 and they were responsible for the
84 of the deaths which occured during the year, whereas scarlet
fever and diphtheria admissions together numbered 883, from
which 11 deaths resulted.
Scarlet fever admissions showed a slight increase over the
previous year, but the type of disease remained mild.
There was little change in diphtheria as compared with the
previous year. The disease was not prevalent and the majority
of the cases were of a mild type. A new record of only 9 fatal
cases was reached.
Two mild cases of para-typhoid fever were under treatment.
An epidemic of measles was present at the beginning of the
year, and during the first five months over 200 severe cases with
complications were admitted. A supply of convalescent serum was
unfortunately not obtainable either for prophylactic use or for
clinical treatment, as most of the patients were children under two
years of age, or were in other respects unsuitable as donors.
Whooping Cough continued to be rather prevalent throughout
the year, and accommodation was provided for as many as possible
of the more severe cases.
Pneumonia cases showed a marked increase in numbers. This
was partly due to the continued low incidence of scarlet fever and
diphtheria, which rendered accommodation available for cases of
this disease.
Erysipelas showed a slight decrease in numbers, and the
average type of case was not quite so severe as in the previous
year.
One hundred and eighty-two patients were in residence at the
beginning of 1932, 1,865 were admitted during the year, making
a total of 2,047 under treatment. Of these, 1,653 were discharged
recovered, 128 died, and 266 remained under treatment at the end
of the year.
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