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36
Although the germs of Diphtheria are frequently found in
the throats of the immediate contacts, the disease does not
appear to be so virulently infectious as Scarlet Fever.
Secondary cases do not appear so frequently. In 1909, in only
one instance were two cases of Diphtheria notified simultaneously
from the same house. In two other instances where
a case was notified, a previous case had occurred earlier in the
year. In one of these an interval of two months had elapsed
between the occurrence of the first and second cases, and in the
other an interval of four months.
In two other instances where Diphtheria was notified, a
previous case had occurred in the house. In one of these the
interval between the first and second notification was
two years, and in the other it was three years. In the latter,
the two cases belonged to the same family.
During the fourth quarter Diphtheria occurred in several
houses where a case of Scarlet Fever had been notified earlier
in the year.
In seven instances the Scarlet Fever patient was nursed at
home and in six the Scarlet Fever patient had been isolated in
the Hospital. Of the six instances, where Hospital isolation
had been observed, two of the patients who had suffered from
Scarlet Fever subsequently developed Diphtheria. In both
cases the Diphtheria infection was probably contracted after
discharge from the Hospital. W. P. was discharged from the
Hospital on October nth, and notified of Diphtheria on
December 14th.
O. H. was discharged from the Hospital on August 20th
and notified of Diphtheria on November 6th.
W. B. was discharged from the Hospital on June 28th and
a sister was notified of Diphtheria on December 30th. In this
case also the dates are not suggestive of Hospital infection.