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On the whole, the disease was of a somewhat more severe type,
eight deaths being registered as due to diphtheria. Of these six
occurred in the Hospital, the case mortality rate being 7'7 per cent.
of cases admitted to the hospital, while the mortality rale among
eases nursed at home was 13.3 per cent. These figures are
interesting, because as a rule the hospital mortality rate is higher
than that among home cases, as the more severe cases are
usually removed to hospital for treatment. The total case mortality
was 8'6 per cent.
Practically half the cases occurred in the East Ward. A
limited outbreak occurred among the boys of the Fortescue House
School, in November and December, six cases being notified and
removed to Hospital.
Typhoid Fever.—Nine cases of typhoid fever were notified
during the year. As this was a somewhat unusual number for
this district, as a rule only one case being reported during each
year, a somewhat detailed report of the cases is necessary. An
isolated case (1) occurred in April and the patient being in
comfortable circumstances was nursed at home. No preceding or
subsequent case could be traced in connection with this and there
was no local cause in the house to arouse suspicion. The patient
had frequently to go away on business, and it is possible the
disease was contracted elsewhere.