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The epidemic started in the winter of the previous year,
from 6 cases in September, 32 in October, 59 in November; the
numbers had risen to 242 in December, 1950, and had reached
the peak figure of 280 in January, 1951. Thereafter the numbers
remained high until April (266) and then rapidly petered
out. The course of events is brought out clearly in Table XIII
on page 64.

Diphtheria. There were two cases of throat infection
where the possibility that the diagnosis might be Diphtheria
had to be considered. In one case it was ultimately accepted
that it was Diphtheria,
The case of Diphtheria was a nasal infection in a child
2½ years of age, with apparently a secondary throat involvement.
The bacteriological results were to some extent conflicting,
the first swab result being negative, the second showed a
mitis type; the third showed a gravis: type and the fourth was
again negative.
The second case was in a child of four who had been
immunised in infancy. He was not regarded clinically as a case
of Diphtheria, but a swab from the thoat showed Diphtheria
organisms. Further bacteriological results showed that the
organisms were avirulent and atypical.
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