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such cases—they are sent to the depot, and there they take a
hot bath. During the time they are in the bath their clothes
are disinfected, and after re-vaccination there is no reason why
they should not follow their employment. Since the infection,
before developing, remains in the system 14 days or thereabouts,
they are examined at the end of 12 to 13 days, to see
whether they show any signs of illne'ss.
Such a course neither interferes with the business of
life nor pauperise those poor working persons who may, from
no fault of their own, come into contact with cases of small-pox.
Many employers of labour in this district have, however, compelled
workers exposed to infection to cease work for a fortnight
or until such time as they consider they are safe from fear of
spread. So long as the wages are not stopped there is no
objection to this course, but it is seldom necessary.
Other measures taken to prevent spread are arrangements
so that immediately on receipt of information the Asylums Board
Authorities are communicated with and the case rapidly removed.
This has been managed by officers constantly on duty from
9 a.m. to a late hour at night. In the great majority of cases
removal has been effected within the hour. Two-thirds have
been removed after ordinary office hours. In two cases the
removal was delayed from accidental causes two or three hours.
No little assistance has been given to the Metropolitan
Health officers generally by the existing facilities of rapid intercommunication
by the telephone. Not a day passes without
messages relating to cases of small-pox being transmitted from
and to various districts. In this district the fact that Dr. Climson
Greenwood, the public vaccinator, is on the list of subscribers
has been taken full advantage of.
SCARLET FEVER.
Scarlet fever, as shown graphically by the curve opposite
page 17, was slightly above the average from January to May,
the number of cases notified then sank below the average during
June, July, August, and the first part of September. During the
second week of September the cases suddenly increased to rise
above the mean number reaching a well-marked maximum in
the last week of September. The cases then declined to again
rise much above the normal during the first week of November,
the remainder of the year being normal.