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It is our intention, so far as practicable, still to carry out this
general principle, but I do think that in cases of scarlet fever,
where the retention of a case in the home until morning will not
seriously increase the already very considerable possibility of other
cases having been infected, medical men should always reflect
before removing cases late at night. ,
Cases cannot be so removed Without incurring some danger to
the patient, and unless this danger is compensated by the need
for immediate treatment or on public health grounds, removals
at night-time are difficult to justify.
(b) Small-pox.—There were 11 cases of small-pox notified during
the year under review. In one case the diagnosis was not upheld
and the patient returned from hospital after one week.
The rest were of a mild type and the situation was dealt with
along orthodox lines.
In conformity with the usual practice, details of cases of small-pox
have been consistently forwarded not only to the Ministry but also
to neighbouring Authorities and to the County Council.
It is curious that the County Council have taken upon themselves
the onus of re-distributing this information over the name of the
County officer. That the County officer would, naturally, wish to
advise the officers under his direction and supervision is obvious,
but his wholesale distribution of this information is less obvious.
One would, naturally, expect the County Council to step in and
carry out the work of a Local Authority if any question of default
were to arise, and because this is so the present County practice
appears to be difficult to explain.
We still experience the curiosity of numbers of people waiting
about the Town Hall to get their vaccination exemption certificates
signed on the same evenings that the Health Committee is meeting
to take measures—such as the notification of chicken-pox, etc.—
to prevent the spread of smallpox.
Vaccination does prevent small-pox. I regret my experience
teaches me it is necessary to reiterate this truth.