146 



DIPHTHERIA 



It is unnecessary to quote fully the reports for 

 1896 and 1897. The mortality per cent, of the 

 cases stands as follows : — 





All Cases. 



Laryngeal 

 Cases. 



Tracheotomies. 



1894 



29.6 



62 



70.4 



1895 



22.5 



42.3 



49.4 



1896 



20.8 



29.6 



4I.O 



1897 



17-5 



30-9 



40.5 



In the reports for 1898 and subsequent years, a 

 change was made : All deaths from intercurrent 

 diseases, such as measles, etc., were included. The 

 1898 report is as follows : — 



"The following three tables show the result of 

 the antitoxin treatment in diphtheria cases. Each 

 table is divided into two halves, one showing only 

 cases treated with antitoxin, the other all cases 

 however treated. 



" Owing to the fact that severe cases are chiefly 

 selected for the antitoxin treatment, the mild cases 

 not being so treated, the second set of figures is 

 probably a better guide than the first as to the 

 success of the treatment, as has been urged in the 

 fuller reports on this subject published in the annual 

 volumes for 1895 an d 1896. 



"In the following tables, all deaths from inter- 

 current diseases, such as measles, etc., have been 

 included. In the reports just alluded to, all cases 

 complicated by intercurrent disease were excluded. 

 As the death-rate amongst such cases is heavy, the 

 case-mortalities for 1898 are all somewhat higher 

 than if the figures had been compiled on the plan 



