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44
Blic report of the Medical Superintendent of the Isolation,
iosltal gives the following figures relating to the Scarlet
Fever patients:—
^fcdmissions—233, of which 155 were Dagenham patients,
^ftverage stay in hospital—47 days.
^Complications—Rhinitis 23. Mastoid
disease 5®/o. >
^■hese figures indicate the extraordinary difficulty under
the hospital has been running for the past year. Owing
clinical condition of the patient, or home circumstances,
Hhjn' been admitted to hospital in excess of the normaj
^Hmodation. This overcrowding has led to an increased
^Hcn<< of rhinitis, etc,, which in its turn prevented the
hi the patient within the usual period of Itime and
^Hs<'d the turnover of each bed. A number of these
^H's no doubt, while free from any rhinorrhoca on disH
developed it again at home and caused the Return
Mrven out of the 10 infecting patients were discharged
f the three months October to December—that is. just at
^wriod of time that the accommodation would be most
CVfr|y strained.
^■hat this high complication rate is due to overcrowding
ISfgcsted when a comparison is made with those ca.s,esi
Hd at home—when it is realised that a total of only 31 out
175 were admitted on clinical grounds, the remainder
^Bsent in on account of home circumstances, and so would
^■nparable clinically.
26,7 ,i child succumbed to Scarlet Fever and was
^^fed on 29 7, He was discharged on 23/8 but was iv.-
[ Ie(l the same day suffering from a relapse and was sub'-
rHitly discharged on 28/9.
Nfriison of Home and Hospital Treatment.
assessing the advantage of removal of patients to
fj" 'n preventing spread of infection, it is nccessary
^V,se that even with ample accommodation at the hospital
number of secondary cases will occur owing to infodMccurring
before the primary case is recognised. These
l!"11 also occur when the patient is to be treat,ed ht
^Ba'id consequently these figures must be deducted from
^Per se;ondary cases which have occurred later and which
8nl detmitcly be assumed to have been preventable.