View report page

28
disease in each of the 3 cases, but there is little doubt that 12 deaths from
Diphtheria is excessive and that number could have been substantiallyreduced
if antitoxin had been administered early. Notwithstanding all
that has been said and written many parents and doctors will not begin
to regard a throat with membrane as being a case of Diphtheria until a
"positive swab" is recorded. This is a courting of danger. Too often
the intimation is received from the hospital of the occurrence of death
with the note "moribund on admission." There can be no excuse for
failure to administer antitoxin early on the ground of expense. Doctors
may have it free of charge on application at the Town Hall, or (after
office hours) the Central Fire Station or Coombes Croft Fire Station.
Friday forenoons are set apart for the immunization of children against
Diphtheria. The outbreak of this disease in different parts of England
aroused parents' anxiety to such an extent that the Press gave prominence
to the danger of infection. Increased numbers of children attended the
Clinic, the parents not realizing probably that little or no protection is
afforded until a period of months has elapsed.
Arrangements are proceeding with the Southgate Borough Council
for the acquisition of an interest in their hospital which it is proposed
shall be enlarged.
The practice is being adopted at the Southgate Hospital, so successfully
followed in several other hospitals, of treating all cases of Scarlet
Fever at the earliest available moment with antitoxin and ignoring
desquamation as a potent means of spreading infection—thus shortening
the stay of the patient in hospital to a period of about 3 weeks.
It is not the practice in Tottenham to hospitalize Scarlet Fever cases
generally. Provided there are no cogent reasons to the contrary patients
are treated at home.
School teachers notify weekly all children absent from school on
account of infectious disease. The latter are followed up at home by the
school nurses.
SCARLET FEVER.
The following table shows the number of patients removed to the
different hospitals receiving Tottenham cases and the average duration
of stay in each:—