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100
material remains suspended in the air as "droplet nuclei"
which may travel about with currents of air as do smoke
particles. We have been fortunate in being offered the
loan of a Wells air centrifuge by Hanovia Ltd., and
experiments on the bacterial content of the air of the
wards will shortly be begun.
(g) The cross-infection incidence in scarlet fever
patients nursed in cubicles is also being investigated, as
it is thought that in this way the best protection against
aerial infection may be afforded, whether by dust, by
droplets or by droplet nuclei. Manual spread is guarded
against in the cubicles as in the bed-isolation wards. The
work is in the early stages, but at the present time no
evidence of change of type of hæmolytic streptococci has
been detected.
(Signed) J. WRTGHT."
Dr. Wright's investigation deals with only one aspect of
work on streptococci, i.e., cross-type infection in scarlet fever
hospital wards. Much work has been done and is being done
at the present time on streptococci and there is a very large
field open for investigation.
As already hinted at, a procedure whereby some of the
results of the activities of the streptococcus hæmolyticus are
afforded isolation and others denied it seems to be incomplete
and some re-orientation of method is called for.
Further investigation on the following lines is suggested
(1) Enquiry into the incidence of sickness, other than
demonstrable scarlet fever, in homes from which
a notification of scarlet fever has been received,
both at the time of notification and immediately
prior thereto.
(2) Enquiry into the health of inmates of homes to
which a case of scarlet fever has returned from
hospital.
(3) Enquiry into the bacterial flora of the throats of
home contacts of cases of scarlet fever.