View report page

44
been re-introduced by "the disturbance of insufficiently
disinfected clothes, etc., left at home and
stored away," for the simple reason that such
families as occupy the smaller tenements have no
place to store things except the pegs on the doors
or in cupboards, where the garments, etc., of the
other members of the family are kept. It may also
be pointed out that the usual practice is to remove
patients as soon as ever the disease is notified,
which in (say) 99 cases out of 100 would be within
a few hours of the patient falling ill. It is not
denied that the patient is infectious during those
few hours, but there is not much chance of infection
being in the clothes, as he is generally put to bed
as soon as he declares ill, unless it be contended
that infection commences to be given off before the
patient feels ill.
There have been several "return" cases in
Paddington during 1895—some of scarlet fever, and
some of diphtheria. Without entering into a minute
account of each case, it may be stated that it has
been found, as regards scarlet fever, there was in
certain of the patients who had returned from
hospital some trouble with either the throat, nose,
or ear, and in one case with the skin of the head.
One source of danger that has been suspected is
catching cold during the journey home from
hospital, which takes place immediately after a
complete bath. In coming to the conclusion that