View report page

15
16 of the cases were multiple, i.e., they occurred in 7
houses. The remainder were single cases.
In two instances diphtheria recurred in the houses towhich
patients had some time before returned from the Hospital;
in one after an interval of 17, and in the other after
an interval of 36 days. Knowing as we do, how infection
clings in some cases, it is possible that these were instances
of re-infection, although Dr. Shannon never discharges a
patient until two swabs, taken at an interval of a week, have
both been reported as free from the specific organism.
There were 10 deaths, showing a mortality of 13.5 per cent.
There was no means of knowing to what extent and at
what stage, if any, the anti-toxine serum was used. If
opportunities were given for the medical attendant to use
this remedy at an early stage, the disease should show a
lower mortality than this.
57 swabs were submitted to the Clinical Research Association,
and specific organisms were reported to be present in
30 instances.
Failure to find the specific organism at the first examination
is not accepted as definite proof that the disease is not
diphtheria.
SMALL-POX.
One case of this disease occurred. The patient, a married
man with a family, was thought to have been exposed to infection
when visiting Deptford on April 14th.
He was removed to the Cheam Small-pox Hospital, where
accommodation is specially reserved until our new hospital