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to work from infected houses, and, more recently, by refusing
infectious pay when patients are not sent to the Fever Hospitals.
Both regulations have had a good effect, the first in
impressing on people the necessity of precautions to avoid
the personal conveyance of infection, and the second in increasing
the use of the Fever Hospitals. But, in view of the fact
of the continued and increased prevalence of Scarlet Fever in
a place where more is probably done in this way to prevent
infection than in any other part of London, it is well worth
considering whether the present action of these regulations has
the desired result.
38. The figures in Table V. shew that the affection attacks
very few adults: only 39 of the 707 cases were over 15, and
only 13 were over 20. Then again, although women who
fondle children are not unlikely to carry infection from one
child to another without themselves being affected, men, who
seldom come into close contact with their children, are very
unlikely to convey it to other men. Further, I am inclined to
think that the Fever Hospitals have become so popular that,
for the most part, no inducement is now needed to attract
patients to them.
39. On the other hand, the Arsenal regulations, in cases
where parents are tender-hearted and loath to part with their
children, more especially when the children are only slightly
affected, act as a powerful incentive to concealment.
I have myself been urged with most plausible arguments
by an Arsenal employe in a good position not to notify a mild
case of Scarlet Fever. More especially among the higher class
of artisans the fact that notification means practically enforced
removal to Hospital, cannot but result in mild cases being
disregarded.