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2. That a discharge ward for scarlet fever be
established at each hospital, into which the patient
could be admitted and bathed not later than the day
before discharge.
3. As we are of opinion that harm has resulted from
the abrupt transition from hospital to home conditions
undergone by patients immediately on discharge, we
recommend that every endeavour should be made to
prepare patients for this change, especially by providing
facilities for their being in the open air. At some of
the hospitals this will involve the erection of verandahs
or other form of shelter.
4. That the following notice be printed and a copy
sent with the notice of discharge to the parent or
guardians of every discharged scarlet fever patient—
"Although every endeavour is made to send out patients
free from infection, it is advisable as an additional precaution,
that they should as far as possible be kept away from other
children, including attendance at school, for the first three
weeks after their return home. They should certainly not
sleep in the same bed, and if possible, not in the same room
with children who have not had the disease.
"It is also advisable that articles used by the patients,
such as cups, plates, spoons, handkerchiefs, towels and toys,
should during this period, be kept distinct by those used by
other children.
"The above precautions are specially important in the case
of those patients suffering from discharge from either nose or
ears."
5. That at one hospital, say the South-Eastern, now
in course of re-building, two or more wards be divided
by glass partitions into separate rooms, and that scarlet