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21
RETURN CASES OF SCARLET FEVER.
In 1909 the number of patients discharged from isolation who
subsequently proved infectious was exceptionally large. In no less
than 39 instances secondary cases, to the number of 52 in all, arose
in homes to which patients had been discharged from hospital.
During 1908 some anxiety was felt as to whether the excessive
number of return cases might not be due in part to the pressure
under which the hospital was working. This pressure was continued
in 1909, and I was therefore glad of an opportunity of testing this
suggestion. During the last year the hospital became so full that
on two occasions it was necessary to transfer patients to other
institutions. Six patients were therefore sent to the Mary Wardell
Convalescent Home, Stanmore, and 26 patients were admitted to
the London Fever Hospital, while during the same period 533
patients were admitted to our own hospital. Of the patients suspected
to be chronically infectious one was discharged from the
Mary Wardell Convalescent Home, two from the London Fever
Hospital, and 36 from the Borough Hospital. The proportion of
chronically infectious patients leaving the Borough Hospital was
therefore not larger than that found in Croydon patients discharged
from other institutions.