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18
Scarlet Fever.
One limited outbreak of Scarlet Fever occurred at a school in
the area. As often happens it did continue to drag on for a period
of some weeks and no exact source was ascertained. Measures to
prevent the spread of the infection were put in hand at the outset
and the cases were mostly of a mild clinical type.
It should be emphasised that where anything like reasonable
home isolation can be secured, sufferers from this disease should,
in the light of present-day knowledge, be treated at home rather
than removed to hospital. In the presence of very unsatisfactory
home conditions or clinical complications in the case, hospital treatment
may evidently be selected, but the chief difference between
Scarlet Fever and epidemic sore throat is simply that in the one
instance a rash develops and in the other it does not. This of itself
is not sufficiently material to demand the selective treatment of the
case with a rash which at present is apt to be given. This association
of identity betwen sore throat (without a rash) and Scarlet
Fever (with a rash) is one which should do much to allay the
diversity of outlook which is exhibited towards them by the public.
Diphtheria.
Diphtheria incidence was, during the year, very low. It would
be satisfactory to argue that the increased immunisation figures are
wholly responsible for this satisfactory state of affairs, and it may
well be that the public consciousness of the value of immunisation
is playing a very important part in preventing the disease. The
present low incidence of Diphtheria may, however, also be influenced
by other factors and the need for a considerably greater
parental appreciation of the value of immunisation is still present.
Immunisation is still regarded by some people with a certain
amount of apprehnesion. It is normally carried out at an age when
children are in a state of transition through feeding, teething, and
the like, and also at a time when they are essentially susceptible to
infectious conditions. Understandably, parents are inclined in some
instances to associate any departure from the normal, occuring
within weeks or months of immunisation, to that immunisation.
Unless, therefore, I am satisfied that a child is perfectly fit I do not
either commence or continue Diphtheria protective measures until
the child is fit.
Admission of Cases to Hospital, save for Smallpox (which are
admitted to Colchester Smallpox Hospital).
All other cases are dealt with at our Joint Hospital at Rush
Green ; subject naturally to the limitation of accommodation which