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Complications have been few, while the death rate is nil. The
anomalies outlined above therefore assume merely academic
importance for the time being, while one additional satisfaction is
apparent. The older, more virulent type of scarlet fever presented
no difficulties in diagnosis, but it did produce results which were
far-reaching and tragic in their effects. So long, therefore, as we
are spared further visitation from this dangerous type of infection,
it would appear that, in spite of regrettable confusion, we may
have much upon which to congratulate ourselves.
One other fact calls for attention. It will be noted above that
12 "secondary" cases occurred in houses from which a primary
case of scarlet fever had been removed to hospital, and that no
"secondary" cases manifested themselves when the original patient
remained at home. This apparently trivial observation is yet
exceedingly important. It abundantly illustrates the fact that
removal to an Isolation Hospital does not in any way modify the
course of infectious disease in a district. Thus, the original use
of an Isolation Hospital may be said to have entirely disappeared.
Indeed, the term itself is shown to be obsolete. This fact should
be much more fully realised, but, unfortunately, the general public
is not always able to keep fully abreast with scientific advance. Until
that is the case, the Isolation Hospital will be called upon to
perform services which it never has been able to render, while it
will be saddled with the blame for occurrences which it is entirely
powerless to prevent.
The procedure with regard to the visiting of schools and the
supervision of cases after discharge from hospital remains unaltered,
and is still proving of the very greatest value. The following
table sets out the information collected under this heading:
Total number of persons discharged during 1937 36
Number of persons visited after 1 year 32
(4 removed from district.)
Number of persons remaining perfectly well
throughout the year 29
(3 patients (2 adults and 1 child) complained of
rheumatism, which had been present during
their treatment in hospital.)
62