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(8) That Dr. Cameron's Report on Return Cases of
Diphtheria and Scarlet Fever, with his recommendations,
be published forthwith. The Asylums Board, as a result
of Dr. Simpson's Report, three years ago, appointed
Dr. Cameron to investigate the same subject. His report
was presented some time ago, but so far the Board has not
given it the light of publicity.
The Committee were of opinion these proposals, so far as they
were not already in operation, should be adopted, and recommended
the Council to concur in this opinion and the Metropolitan
Asylums Board be so informed,
" Return" cases of Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria.
("Lancet," November 18, 1905.)
"In all the hospitals which are set apart for the treatment of
individuals suffering from infectious diseases every care is naturally
taken to prevent discharged convalescent patients from being
sources of infection to others. It is a fact, however, that not
infrequently when such a patient (particularly if a child) has been
at home for a varying period of time one or more individuals in
the same house develop the disease. This occurrence takes place
more particularly in the case of scarlet fever or of diphtheria. In
order to ascertain the circumstances which determine the incidence
of these ''return'' cases the Hospitals Committee of the Metropolitan
Asylums Board resolved that a full investigation should be conducted.
Dr. A. G. E. Cameron was requested to undertake the
inquiry, and his report has recently been published. His instructions
were to follow the lines adopted by Professor W. J. R, Simpson
in his investigation, which extended from October, 1898, to March,
1899. Dr. Cameron commenced his work on July 1st, 1901, and
terminated it at the end of July, 1903. The period covered by the
report extends from July 1st, 1901, to July 31st, 1902. The first
portion deals with "return" cases of scarlet fever and the second
with those of diphtheria. The total number of inquiries made