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45
devoting to scarlet fever all the hospital wards except one (reserved
for diphtheria), by increasing the number of beds in each ward
beyond the standard accommodation, and by the judicious selection
of cases prior to admission—it was found possible to treat in hospital
286 (61.24 per cent.) of the cases notified during these two
epidemic periods. As the result of initial visits and enquiries it
was considered that the remaining 181 (38.76 per cent.) notified
persons could be adequately nursed and isolated at home.

With a view to modifying the Regulations of the Local Education
Authority for the exclusion of children from school on account
of scarlet fever in such manner as to interfere as little as possible
with school attendance while safeguarding against the conveyance
of infection in accordance with modern ideas regarding epidemiology
the Medical Officer of Health and School Medical Officer submitted
to the appropriate Committees in December, 1933, a special report
on the subject of home treatment and school exclusion. An extract
from that report will be found on page 186 in the section of the
Report dealing with School Medical Service.

From these figures it is evident that the incidence of diphtheria
(i.e., cases notified) was exceptionally low during 1933; in fact, the