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69
broncho-pneumonia. One child had the complication of
Empyema, on which I operated and removed about two pints of
pus. I have already mentioned the disadvantage of not having
a discharge block, as there is no doubt that the return cases we
have are due to the patients catching cold after the bath on the
morning of discharge, and the catarrh resulting therefrom causing
an infectious discharge from the nose or ear, especially in those children
having adenoids and enlarged tonsils.
DIPHTHERIA.
306 cases of Diphtheria were admitted during the year, as
compared with 237 in 1913. Seventy of these cases were sent in
by the School Medical Officer, either having been discovered at the
Medical Inspection at School or at the Inspection Clinic, the
diagnosis having been made after a bacteriological examination of
a swab from the throat or nose. Thirty-two cases remained from
the previous year, making a total of 338 cases treated. Twentyone
deaths occurred, giving a case mortality of 6.2 per cent.

In seven cases it was found necessary to perform the operation
of 1 racheotomy, two of which ended fatally. As in the case
of Scarlet Fever, it was found that the cases admitted during the
latter part of the year were much more severe than during the
earlier months. No case is discharged until negative results are
obtained by bacteriological examination of swabs from throat and
nose. On this account it is most rare to have a return case of the
disease.