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106
Probable Source.—In 48 cases tlie infection was derived
from previous cases in the same families, in another five the
disease had been contracted from mild unrecognised cases in the
affected households.
Thirty-four were examples of school infection, thirty-eight cases
were caught from play fellows in the street, six had been infected
when visiting or being visited by friends or relatives. Twenty-five
cases were not discovered until some weeks after the rashes had
appeared. They were then peeling. They were mild missed cases
that had apparently only suffered from slight headaches, slight
sore throat, or other form of slight malaise which the parents
wrongly attributed to "the heat," to "growing pains," or to
some other ill-defined and insufficient cause. Eight developed
scarlet fever while detained in hospital for some other causes.
Thirteen were presumably infected by visiting places of entertainment.
Alii the houses where cases occurred were visited and
inspected. Nuisances that called for remedy were made the subject
of notice and amendment. The rooms, the bedding and
clothing, were disinfected. There were 19 return cases.
Three "infecting" cases were readmitted to hospital, on the
certificates of the Medical Officer of Health after their return
home.
Cases discharged for Home.-In Finsbury every case discharged
from the fever hospital :s 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.
Special attention is paid to children who develop a discharge
from the nose after their return home, to children with adenoids,
to children with enlarged neck glands, and to children with sores
on their lips, or on their faces. Sixteen such cases were kept
under the observation of the Medical Officer for periods varying
from one to three months before they were certified as being free
from infection and fit to resume school attendance.