View report page

18
In neither of these cases had diphtheritic antitoxin been injected
before admission. I may here state that in order to prevent any delay
in the early use of antitoxin the Council has given orders that a supply
shall be kept at the Medical Department at Southwood Lane, where it
can be obtained at cost price. A circular was sent out to the medical
gentlemen practising in the neighbourhood to this effect last October,
and five applications for it have been made.
Typhoid Fever.— Application for admission were made for
8 patients suffering from this disease. Of these 1 was discharged as
ineligible (abdominal influenza), 1 died (tubercular meningitis) and
the remainder left the Hospital well.
The case of tubercular meningitis was sent in as being one of
typhoid, the symptoms of both these diseases being often very similar.
Before the disease could with certainty be pronounced as not one of
typhoid fever the patient became too ill for removal and, as is almst
invariably the case with this disease, died. The diagnosis was verified
by a post-mortem examination,
Discharge Rooms and Baths.— During the year a great
improvement has been effected as to the manner in which the patients
take their final disinfecting baths. They now leave the bathroom for
another small room, in which they put on perfectly clean and disinfected
clothes, and then walk from this room into the open air,
and so out of the Hospital without again entering either the bathroom
or ward.
Washing, &C.— As in previous years all the washing for the
patients and resident staff has been done in the laundry, and the
necessary disinfecting of clothes done on the premises, both the
laundry and disinfector being in the Hospital grounds.
The Nursing staff.— The great advantage of training nurses
as adopted last year, has again proved very satisfactory, and the