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Whether Percy Curtis infected his brother—as seems probable—or not, there
was nothing in the boy's condition to suggest that he was not fit for discharge
at the time he left the South-Eastern Hospital.
(4) George Taylor, 49, Dixon Street, was admitted to the Eastern Fever
Hospital with Scarlet Fever on May 6th and discharged on June 25th. Two
days later, his sister fell ill with the same disease. It was stated that the boy
seemed quite well when he returned from Winchmore Hill. There appeared
to be nothing suggestive of an incomplete recovery from Scarlet Fever. The
boy was absent from home for seven weeks, which should have been long
enough in an uncomplicated case, such as this, to secure a complete elimination
of all infection.
(5) Alexandra Chetland, 189, Katherine Buildings, was removed to the
Fever Hospital on July 8th suffering from Scarlet Fever and discharged on
August 27th. On September 3rd, her brother Thomas complained of feeling
ill, and on September 4th, he was notified to be suffering from Scarlet Fever,
and her sister May was removed on September 7th suffering from the same
disease.
The Officers of the Metropolitan Asylums Board pointed out to the parents
that fever experts are now agreed in holding the view that late peeling, such as
was present in the case of this child, does not carry with it the risk of infection,
and practical experience has proved this view to be correct. While it is possible
that the infection of Scarlet Fever was brought home from Gore Farm by
Alexandra, it was stated, that in some children, infection persists after every
trace of the illness disappears, and that in the present state of our knowledge,
we have no means of ascertaining when this is the case. Fresh cases may occur
after the return of a patient from Hospital, despite the utmost care on the part
of the Medical Officer of the Institution.
(6) Rosalie Long, 111, Old Church Road, was removed to the Fever
Hospital on July 26th said to be suffering from Scarlet Fever, and discharged
on September 1st. On September 3rd, the mother discovered that she still had
a rash and took her to the London Hospital. The mother was there informed
that the child was in an infectious condition, and she was forthwith removed to the
Brook Fever Hospital. She was detained until October 12th. It was afterwards
ascertained that when she was admitted on July 2Gth she was suffering
with Broncho-pneumonia and dangerously ill. She had no evidence of Scarlet
Fever at the time of entering or leaving the Hospital on that occasion.
(7) Cecil Charles Turner, 38, Walker Street, was admitted to the Park
Fever Hospital with Scarlet Fever on August 24th, transferred to Gore Farm