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45
Four cases, notified Diphtheria, were suffering from Scarlet Fever
only; these were isolated in cubicles, and no case of infection from
them occurred.
There were only three larygeal cases admitted during the year; they
all recovered; none required tracheotomy.
Over 470 bacteriological examinations from throats and noses were
made during the year.
Of the Diphtheria cases sent into Hospital, some which were
undoubtedly Diphtheria failed to give bacteriological evidence of the
disease.
A slight outbreak of Chicken Pox occurred during the latter part of
the summer; five patients in the Convalescent Scarlet Fever Block
were affected.
In December, three cases of German Measles occurred in the
Diphtheria Block.
Both of these groups of cases were isolated in the cubicles, and no
other cases followed.
During the summer one of the staff—a new probationer—contracted
Scarlet Fever in a mild form; she was isolated for six weeks. The
other cases of illness which have occurred amongst the staff have been
few and slight; in only one of these cases did absence from duty
extend to a fortnight.
No other cases of infection amongst the patients or staff have
occurred during the past year.
TYPHOID FEVER.
Twenty-six persons were notified as suffering from this disease in
1910.
The number is smaller than in any previous year, 1909 and 1907
excepted, and considerably below the average (54) for previous ten
years.
Three of the cases were discovered by me, and were contacts from
a previous case nursed at home. They were under treatment for
Catarrh of Stomach, Influenza and Rheumatism respectively for some
weeks previously. I reported the circumstances to the Public Health
Committee, but the explanation for non-notification was accepted and
no legal action was taken under the Act of 1889.
The history of two cases arising in one house was as follows:—
H. C., a male, aged 17 years, attended the local hospital for three
weeks and was then admitted.