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produces disease or not. The period of the residence of the
organisms in the sick and the healthy is probably determined by
the same factor, and in both classes of cases the organism has
been known to persist for very long periods. In the majority of
cases, the germs disappear well within the usual six weeks df
isolation.
In a disease of such a short period of incubation and rapid
clinical course, the development of administrative measures for
its control is always a matter of importance.
The matter that has excited the keenest interest and often
controversy is the segregation of infected contacts and other
carriers of infection; for, however desirable it may appear in
theory, it is attended with much difficulty in practice. Any
hard and fast rule is not warranted from our present knowledge
of the subject clinically or bacteriologically.
All administrative action depends to some extent upon legal
powers, and the first essential is to have clearly before our
minds how far we can legally proceed.
Section 126 of the Public Health Act, 1875, gives powers
with regard to "any person who, while suffering from any
dangerous infectious disease, expose themselves," etc. Section
52, part 4. of the Public Health Acts Amendment Act, 1907,
states that "If any person knows that he is suffering from an
infectious disease, he shall not engage in any occupation unless
he can do so ' without risk df spreading the infectious disease."
In each, of these sections, and in others relating to infectious
disease, it is specified that the person must be suffering from the
infectious disease, and probably definite illness seems to be
implied. In our fever hospitals many cases of Scarlet Fever
and Diphtheria are detained, not because there is any clinical
manifestation of the disease, but because, in our opinion, they
remain in an infectious condition.
If any such patient left hospital against advice, prosecution
would probably follow, although he is not suffering from the
disease.