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must keep away altogether from other children and, as far
as possible from adults.
3. Ventilation. Admit fresh air by opening wide the upper
sash of the window. The fireplace should be kept open,
and a fire lighted in cold weather. Fresh air should be
freely admitted through the whole house by means of open
windows and doors.
4. Recovery. A patient suffering from this disease is generally
dangerous to others for six to eight weeks, and must not
be allowed to mix with other people until the Medical
Attendant certifies that there is no danger. In Diphtheria,
a bacteriological examination will show when the patient
is free from infection.
5. Unrecognised Cases. Many cases of Scarlet Fever and
theria are very mild and the rash of Scarlet Fever may be
absent or so slight that unless it is carefully looked for it
may be entirely overlooked. Such cases are often looked
upon as being merely "feverish colds" or "simple sore
throat," &c. In Scarlet Fever the "peeling" in the course
of two or three weeks will often show the real nature of the
illness, but meantime the disease may have spread to
others. Hence in all doubtful cases (as where there is sore
throat, sickness, and slight feverishness), careful search
for a rash on the body should be made for several days
and medical attendance sought. If there has been a
previous case of Diphtheria in the house, the school, or the
neighbourhood, a bacteriological examination should be
made.
6. Disinfection. All soiled linen should at once be placed in
a tub of water to which a handful of ordinary washingsoda
has been added, soaked for 12 hours, and then boiled
in a copper. Materials which cannot be boiled should be
soaked for one hour in Corrosive Sublimate solution mixed
with two parts of water.