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Of the remaining seventy-two cases one was one of typhoid,
one was an instance of puerperal septicemia, 49 were cases of
scarlet fever or scarlet fever and diphtheria, seventeen were cases
of diphtheria, and four were cases sent in as either scarlet fever
or diphtheria, and proving to be otherwise.
Of eighty-six cases of scarlet fever or diphtheria notified,
seventy-three were removed to hospital, or eighty-one per cent.
This percentage is rather lower than usual, and is due to the fact
that during 1907 a larger proportion of cases than usual occurred
in houses where proper facilities for isolation existed. These cases
were also mostly those of persons above fifteen years of age,
Although the absolute number admitted to the hospital
during 1907 was not very great, still, in the early part of the year,
there was very great strain on the accommodation owing to the
fact that an unusually large number of groups of cases had to be
treated at once. Thus at one time there were present simultaneously
cases of diphtheria, scarlet fever, scarlet fever and
diphtheria, typhoid, diphtheria and whooping cough, and other complaints
or combination of complaints.
Under circumstances such as these the knowledge of the
nominal number of beds in a hospital is of little consolation to
those who have to deal practically with the situation caused, not
only by the necessity of separating the various diseases, but also
the sexes, and the "convalescents" from the "acutes."
It was my duty therefore to urge anew (especially as a
lamentable series of cross-infections, &c., had arisen as a result of
the deficient ward accommodation in December, 1906) the
building of the ward block first suggested by me in 1901.
Decision was, however, postponed, but two very necessary
and important improvements were carried out, under the
supervision of Mr. Tomes, in the conversion of the hand laundry