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59
A case of Scarlet Fever was diagnosed ; the type
being mild and facilities for treatment apparently
available it was considered that the child could be safely
treated at home, an undertaking having been given by
the mother that all precautions would be taken with
regard to isolation.
The Sanitary Inspector observed that the mother
was not honouring her pledge and that the child was
being allowed to mix freely with others. The mother
was then interviewed by the Medical Officer of Health,
and she reaffirmed her intention of observing all the
conditions laid down for isolation. These she failed to
carry out and the Medical Officer of Health arranged
for the child to be admitted to the Isolation Hospital.
The Inspector was present when the ambulance arrived
and the removal was carried out under his supervision.
Deaths.
72 per cent. of the cases were admitted to hospital,
and the remainder were visited in their homes from time
to time by Sanitary Inspectors. It appears that the
infectivity of Scarlet Fever, as well as its fatality, is
either decreasing or remaining stationary : the idea
once widely held that isolation hospital treatment
tended to prevent epidemics should be contradicted.
The value of these institutions lies in the facilities they
offer for correct treatment, the part they play in preventing
infectious disease is a minor one.
Secondary Cases.
There were 32 such cases compared with 84 for the
previous year. The primary cases in three instances
were nursed at home, the remainder were admitted to
hospital, five were traced to patients discharged from
hospital, the onset of these being within seven to 11
days of such discharge. Three were attributable to
contact with cases in other areas.