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Diphtheria.—More cases than usual this past
year, but no semblance of an outbreak or of any
common cause. The cases presented the extremes
—severe and fatal in a matter of hours and others
so mild as to be almost unrecognisable, and if it
were not for bacteriological examinations there
would in every probability be more of these cases
than there are. Unless it be a diagnosis of
"rashes," few things are more difficult to determine
than whether or no the occasional sore
throat is just septic only or has the specific diphtheria
germ with its technical name, as its primary
cause. Nothing definite seems to be known as to
the originating or creative factors in these sporadic
or isolated cases, but it is certain that insanitary
conditions, filth, dampness and drainage defects,
together with personal contact, are the chief
predisposing conditions and disseminating causes.
There were two deaths belonging to the
district out of thirteen cases—one occurred in the
Isolation Hospital and one at home, other three
deaths were at the Hospital, but they were cases
admitted from the Dittonsand Molesey. It should
be more generally known that in the case of the
necessitous poor, arrangements are in force whereby
bacteriological examinations can be made free
of charge at the Clinical Research on application at
the Council Offices, or on emergency by applying
to the Medical Officer of Health or the Sanitary
Inspector at their residences.
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