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64
Six were examples of so-called "return" cases. These are
cases which are associated with the return home of scarlet fever
patients who have been detained in a fever hospital. They may
also occur in households where the patients have been treated at
home when these later re-enter the family circle. The original case
is called the infecting case, the secondary cases are "return
cases."
It is very difficult, sometimes impossible, to say when a scarlet
fever patient becomes free from infection. Some patients are
infectious long after they are convalescent—it may be even months
after they have apparently recovered in every way.
These cases—the infecting cases—are often found to have a
discharge from the nose—it may be only slight in degree and
only evident on pressure—this discharge is now in most instances
considered to be the infecting agent during convalescence from
scarlet fever.
In Finsbury every case discharged from the Fever Hospital is
visited soon after return home and carefully examined. The possibility
of further infection is explained to the mother, suitable
measures suggested and a leaflet of instruction left with her.
There were 6 return cases in 1909.

All the houses where cases occurred were visited and inspected.
Nuisances that called for remedy were made the subject of
notice and the bedding and clothing were disinfected.