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" school for the first three weeks after their return home. They should cer"
tainly not sleep in the same bed, and, if possible, not in the same room
" with children who have not had the disease.
" It is also advisable that articles used by the patients such as cups,
" plates, spoons, handkerchiefs, towels, and toys should, during this period, be
" kept distinct from those used by other children.
" The above precautions are specially important in the case of those
" patients suffering from discharge of either nose or ears.
(5.) " That at one hospital, say the South-Eastern, now in course of re-building,
two or more wards be divided by glass partitions into' separate rooms,, and
that scarlet fever patients be treated therein on the system of complete isolation
during the whole period of detention so far as may be found practicable; and
that the effect of this procedure on the occurrence of return cases should be carefully
observed.
(6.) " That similar rooms be erected at two other acute hospitals in which
scarlet fever patients may be isolated for at least three weeks after admission.
The patients being afterwards drafted into convalescent wards, the complicated and
uncomplicated cases being kept separate. The structural arrangements of the
rooms mentioned in this and the preceding recommendations to be carefully considered
by the medical superintendents.
(7.) " That inquiry into the subject of return cases should be continued, on
lines to be suggested by the medical superintendents.
(8.) " That arrangements be made to notify each return case to the superintendent
of the hospital from which the infecting patient was discharged.
With respect to diphtheria, return cases being less common, the medical superintendents
make no recommendations as to any special systems of isolation, but they
suggest that the question whether a bacteriological examination before discharge gives
any additional security should be further investigated.
Doubtless giving effect to the foregoing recommendations is likely to be attended
with beneficial results, but so far as can be foreseen with a disease like scarlet fever,
there will always remain even with the very best of regulations and the utmost precautions,
some risk of the occurrence of return cases.