284
The poor, that is the more unnerved portion of the population, are not able lo
take advantage of the relaxation and thus they fall victims in greater proportion.
It is highly desirable, therefore, that attempts should be made to remove this
fright as much as possible.
The Plague Commission has rightly appreciated the importance of this element
of fright in the treatment of plague cases, and it is to be hoped that in giving effect
to their recommendation special attention shall be bestowed upon giving such con-
cessions as will reassure the minds of our poor and more ignorant population.
Fever, Buboes and Period of Convalescence.—All the points under these head-
ings have been fully described in the last year's Report.
Complications.—The chief were congestion of the brain, suppression of urine,
diarrhoea, hsemorhage from the lungs, and in one case from intestines.
Another disease that was found associated with plague was small-pox. Two
cases of plague were admitted in the Hospital, and both of them had had an attack
of sruull-pox about a month previous to- their getting plague. This fact shows that
an attack of small-pox does not give protection against plague.
Mumps, mistaken for plague, has not been observed in the Hospital.
- Observation Cases.—The total number of cases was 68, and the diseases,
which they developed were as follows ;—
Syphilitic Buboes
Synovitis ...
Cholera
Jaundice ...
...
...
•••
...
...
...
...
...
Capillary Bronchitis ...
Remittent and Intermittent Fevers...
... 2
1
... 1
... 1
... 1
... 62
68
The line of treatment was nearly the same as described in detail in the previous
Report. Bearing in mind the insidious way in which the plague bacilli get access
to the body, the rapidity with which they multiply and produce poisonous products
(toxins) in the system, the suddenness with which the plague manifests itself, the
rapid course it undergoes, and the degenerative changes that are soon produced in
the blood and tissues of the body, it stands to reason that the remedial treatment
should be commenced as early as possible. The earlier the treatment is adopted,
the greater are the chances of recovery.
In Hospital it is rare to get patients whose disease is in its premonitary stage
or has just commenced. The condition of the blood and the tissues of the body in
the initial stage is quite likely to be changed for the worse in a disease like plague
in the course of even 24 to 40 hours, so even the best treatment we know of can be
expected to give good results only if the treatment begins immediately after the
re-appearance of the first symptoms of the disease. Hospitals have not and are not
likely to become so popular as to induce people to resort to them of their own
accord. At present they resort to them as a matter of compulsion. If measures are
modified in a way to give facilities to people to have recourse to treatment as early
as possible, I am sure that the ratio of mortality would be appreciably less than
what it is at present.
The germicide that was tried this year was the Per lodate as recommended by
Weaver, in addition to lodin Terchloride and Liq. Hydrarg. Perchloride. The
lodin Terchloride was not well borne by some, as it produced, though temporarily,
a Peculiar irritating sensation in the throat and caused vomiting.