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(c) Lectures.—Probationer Nurses continue to receive lectures
from the Matron, Mr. Hill and myself. There is evidence that
the standard of reception is showing a definite improvement. It
is hoped that this will manifest itself in more satisfactory examination
results.
Cross-Infection.—Eleven cases of chicken-pox occurred in the
hospital, following the admission of a patient to the scarlet fever
ward suffering from scarlet fever, but incubating the former disease.
This outbreak continued from the latter part of 1937, the original
patient having been admitted during that year. Short of complete
isolation of all cases admitted to the Hospital in cubicle wards,
there is no known method of preventing the entry of this disease
into an open ward. Fortunately, as in our own particular instance,
the end result is seldom more than inconvenience. So far as it
was possible to ascertain, no patients suffered any ill-effects from
the chicken-pox infection, and we were able to discharge all the
children affected in a healthy condition. In many instances it was
not even necessary to prolong their normal stay in hospital.
During the summer months, when Sonne type dysentery was
so prevalent in London, six cases occurred in two wards of the
hospital. Complete investigation into the possibility of a ''carrier"
existing among the staff, and also into the purity of the food
supplies, including milk and water, failed to uncover the original
source of infection. All the patients concerned were properly
isolated, no further cases occurring after the initial outbreak. In
every case, the patients were discharged without visible, permanent
ill-effects.
Return Cases.— Only one "return case," i.e., a case of
scarlet fever occurring in a home within 28 days after the return
to the home of a case of that disease from the Isolation Hospital,
occurred among the 137 cases treated in hospital during the year.
This gives a Return Case Rate of 0.73 per cent., as against 0.56 per
cent. during 1937.
Transfers to and from other Hospitals.—The following
transfers occurred during the year:
From the Prince of Wales's Hospital 36 cases
,, North Middlesex County Hospital 6 ,,
,, Enfield and Edmonton Isolation
Hospital 1 case
,, Grovel ands Hospital of Recovery 4 cases
,, Hornsey, Finchley and Wood
Green Isolation Hospital 1 case
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