View report page

5
desquamation had commenced, and if this child had mixed at
school with other children it would not have been surprising if
a severe Epidemic had broken out. These mild cases are generally
the most dangerous for the community, as no medical aid is
called in to attend the invalid, who is supposed to suffer from a
trivial disorder, but who is in a condition to spread such an
infectous disease over a large area.
All cases were visited, disinfectants were supplied and after
recovery the premises were disinfected, except in cases where
families were living in roomy houses and were able to isolate
the patient and by the advice of their medical attendant to use
proper precautions against the spread of the disease.
Diphtheria.—Twelve cases were notified and those occurred
in 5 houses in the early part of the year. As only one case
proved fatal this dangerous disease was of a very mild type, and
judging from the unusually small mortality probably even suspicious
cases were included in the notifications, which was
certainly evidence of caution on the right side. As it is very
often impossible to distinguish the diphtheritic character of a sore
throat from true diphtheria, it is safer therefore to isolate all
such mild doubtful cases and prevent them from mixing with
other children.
In every case attention was directed to the milk supply and
in no case was the outbreak traced to this source. The houses
were all visited and the necessary steps taken to prevent the
spread of the disease
Membranous Croup.—One case was notified and this proved
fatal.
Puerperal Fever.—No case.
Enteric Fever.—Only one case occurred and that was of a
man who showed symptoms of illness and was taken into the
Cottage Hospital,. After a time it was found that he was suffering
from Enteric fever. I visited the house, but could not
trace any cause for the outbreak.
Diarrhoea.—This disease was much less prevalent than in
former years. When the circular letter from the Local Government
Board was received suggesting that Diarrhoea should be
made a notifiable disease, the Sanitary Authority passed a
resolution, that the Infectious Diseases Notification Act, 1889,
should apply to all cases of diarrhoea occurring within the district
other than those of children under two years of age and the
order to terminate on November 30th 1894.
The number of cases notified during that period was 15, and
most of those were of a mild type. Only one death occurred
during the year and this was of an infant 5 months old.