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are due, as desquamation of the skin is no longer considered to
be infectious.
In one case that was recently brought to my notice a girl who
during her stay in the Hospital had no symptoms of ear trouble,
two days after being discharged developed a discharging ear and
infected other members of the family, and was re-admitted. There
is no doubt this was due to having no Discharging Block. The
patients are bathed on the morning of discharge from the
Hospital, and if the weather is bad the possibility of catching cold
and living in less hygienic surroundings is likely to cause catarrh
of the nose and ear, especially in those patients having Adenoidand
enlarged Tonsils.
DIPHTHERIA.
237 cases of Diphtheria were admitted during the year, as
compared with 90 in 1912.
These, together with one remaining from the previous year,
made a total of 238 cases treated.
Nine deaths occurred, giving a case mortality of 3.7 per
cent.
The case mortality in the Hospital from this disease during
five years was as follows : —
1909 7.2
1910 5.5
1911 6.7
1912 5.5
1913 3.7
It was found necessary to perform tracheotomy in ten cases,
only three of which ended fatally, and in one fatal case the parents
refused until the patient was moribund to sanction operation.
1 he usual stay in the Hospital was about four or five weeks,
but no case was discharged until a negative "Swab" was
obtained by bacteriological examination. The excellent results
obtained were by the free use of antitoxin, as except in rare cases,
such as haemorrhage and purulent discharge from the nose no
local treatment was given.