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5. In order to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion, the Committee
are of opinion that information should be obtained as to
whether
(a) The mucous discharges in themselves are infectious
from patient to patient.
(b) Their infectivity quickly dies out on removal of the
patient to an uninfected environment.
And further, in order to place the inquiry on a firmer basis than
at present, that the investigations should extend over a longer
period than six months, so that not only all seasons of the year
may be included in the scope of the investigations, but that the
data available should be more numerous. The Committee are of
opinion that there is not sufficient evidence at present before them
to enable them to lay down any definite period of time as necessary
for the detention of patients recovering from scarlet fever.
With the object of obtaining further evidence the Committee
recommend—
(I.) That in each hospital a couple of wards identical in
respect to cubic space per bed, etc., should be set aside and
administered on a different principle, the sex of the children
being the same, and the age as far as possible ; that in one
ward the cases subject to mucous discharges from nose or ear
be rigorously excluded ; that immediately on the appearance
of any such discharge the patient should be removed : and
that all nozzles and syringes should be kept in antiseptic
solutions. In the other ward no special attention should be
paid to these discharges, other than hitherto adopted. The
incidence of either rhinorrhœa or otorrhœa should be compared.
Cases of " septic scarlet fever" should be excluded from both.
(II.) That, if possible, in certain hospitals, with the
approval of the medical superintendents, two or more rooms
previously disinfected be reserved for the isolation after, six
or eight weeks' detention, of single patients who are suffering
from rhinorrhœa or otorrhœa, but whose desquamation is
completed. Each patient so secluded should be kept for ten
days or a fortnight before returning home. During this
period of detention, the affected parts should be regularly
irrigated and syringed with some reliable antiseptic, and great