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the cases were investigated, and there was no doubt whatever
that every care had been taken by the hospital authorities.
Upon the discharge of a patient from Hospital, most
careful instructions are given to parents as to what precautions
should be taken on the return home of their child. "Upon
enquiry into these return cases it was generally ascertained
that these precautions were not, or could not, be followed.
It may be interesting to state how fallacious it is to draw an
inference that when a case of scarlet fever occurs in a house
upon the discharge of a patient from hospital, that it is due
to the infectivity of the patient. The following example
shews how a case of Scarlet Fever occurred in a child who was
sent to Hospital on August 17th. The brother, who was
staying in the country suffering from Scarlet Fever, returned
home on August 21st. Had this child returned a few days
earlier the case sent to Hospital would undoubtedly have
been put down as a return case.
Infective Illness (Exceptional Cases).
The following history of Infective Sore Throat, which
went through a family, is of much interest.
In April a child suffered from sore throat, headache and
swollen glands. She was in bed for two or three days. She
got up for three days and then went to bed again with a sore
throat. No vomiting, no rash, but a high temperature. The
following week a second child fell ill with exactly the same
symptoms. She was in bed for a week with a high temperature.
A few days after a third occupant of the house became
ill with sore throat and headache. There was an absence of
vomiting or rash. She was ill for several days. At the same
time a fourth occupant fell ill with sore throat and swollen
and tender glands in the neck. No vomiting or any sign of
rash. The following week a fifth occupant fell ill with sore
throat, headache and tender glands. No vomiting or rash, but
a high temperature. He was laid up for two days, got better
and attended his business for a few days, when he again
fell ill with the same symptoms. After being in bed for three
days he again returned to business, but fell ill three days
after with a Quinsy, which burst.