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encouraged, mainly on economic grounds resulting as a
consequence of the freeing of hospital beds occupied by
mild uncomplicated cases, and there is much to support the
policy 011 Public Health grounds. This policy of home
isolation is becoming more active, in 1933 seven per cent,
were home nursed, and in 1934 twenty-five per cent, were
home nursed.
Return Cases, i.e., second cases arising in the same
family after discharge of the first case from hospital.
Total Cases—
Hospital treated 10
Home nursed 1
Period of isolation of first case—
Weeks. Hospital Cases. Home Nursed.
5 1 _
6 3 1
7 1 _
8 3 _
11+ 2 _
Period, between discharge from Hospital and
infection of return case—
Within 10 days 5
15 „ 2
20 „ 1
25 „ 2
Home nursed case, 12 days.
On this question of home isolation of the uncomplicated
case of scarlet fever it will be of interest to note the
findings of the report of the Medical Research Council
issued in 1933. This Report covers an epidemiological
study in Scarlet Fever in England since 1900.
(1) Diminution in the Death Rate of Scarlet Fever
during the past thirty years is due essentially to the decreased
severity of the disease. The present low level may
be, for any evidence to the contrary, merely the trough of
the wave.
(2) During the period studied no evidence has been
found to prove that hospital isolation has been effective
in reducing the prevalence, or mortality from Scarlet
Fever,