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29
of cases there are sure to be a certain number of such
coincidences. But it seems probable that the majority are
something more than coincidences.
Where, after the return of a case from hospital with a
running at the nose, one, two, three or more brothers and
sisters successively go down with scarlet fever, the connection
between the returned case and the subsequent ones can hardly
be denied. As a rule the children returning from hospital are
quite well at the moment of discharge, but in many cases
develope some nasal discharge on arriving home, or within a
few days. The following are illustrative cases:—
(1). A.B. had had nasal discharge for two weeks before
leaving hospital. "Was well on leaving hospital but the
running recurred the day after reaching home.
(2). B.C. returned well, but had purulent rhinorrhœa 24
days after. Three days after this began her mother
sickened with scarlet fever.
(3). D.E. had a cold just after coming home.
(4). F.G. began with rhinorrhoea three days after discharge;
a brother sickened with scarlet fever four days later.
(5). M.N. was sent out with rhinorrhoea after three months
isolation at hospital. Special precautions were taken
for treating the nose and isolating the patient, but, in
spite of these, the running continued, and a brother
sickened twelve weeks later.
As recorded in previous reports, special instructions are
given to parents of returning cases, but it does not appear that
much advantage has ensued.
The Hospital Superintendents forward the names of any
children discharged while still suffering from rhinorrhœa. It
would be an advantage perhaps if they also forwarded the