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Return Cases.—In 5 instances the disease occurred within 10
days of the return of a patient living in the same house from one of
the Metropolitan Asylums Board's Hospitals after recovery from a
similar attack. In each instance the Diphtheria bacillus was discovered
in the nasal secretion of the returned patient.
The occasional persistence of the infectiousness of the disease is
illustrated by the following case: —
A child was admitted into the Fountain Fever Hospital on June
15th, suffering from Scarlet Fever, while there had a mild attack of
post-scarlatinal Diphtheria, was discharged about the middle of
August, and went to Leytonstone for a month, returning home to
Fulham in the middle of September. A fortnight after her return
the mother contracted Diphtheria, and was removed on October 2nd
to the hospital. The child then went back to Leytonstone, returned
to Fulham on October 16th, slept for three nights with her father,
who was notified on October 23rd as suffering from Diphtheria, and
was removed to the hospital. On October 21st she went to stay
with some relatives in another street in Fulham, ami on November 6th
a cousin, aged 25, contracted Diphtheria. Shortly after this she
went to Kingstonon-Thames, and within a few days her uncle and
aunt, with whom she was staying, were attacked with Diphtheria.
Several bacteriological examinations were made, and the bacillus of
Diphtheria was found on every occasion in the nasal secretion until
the end of January, though both the throat and nose appeared perfectly
healthy.
A resident in Fulham was prosecuted by the Vestry for knowingly
placing in a cab his servant, who was suffering from Diphtheria.
Fined £3 and 2s. costs.
B