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85
The outstanding difference between the hospital-treated and
home-treated groups is the ratio of contacts to primary cases. For
instance, in the period 1932-33 the ratio was 1.23 for hospitaltreated
cases and 0.58 for home-treated cases; in 1934-37 it was
1.06 for hospital and 0.58 for home cases. This is to be expected
when one considers that many cases are admitted to hospital
simply because the number of home contacts makes isolation at
home difficult. However, by accepting as the basis of comparison
the percentage of contacts attacked, the two groups are comparable.
When comparison is made between the percentage contactattack
rates of hospital-treated and home-treated cases it will be
seen that in each of the two periods the percentage was greater
when the primary cases were treated at home.
The important point, however, is whether the shortening of
the school exclusion period was followed by any significant change
in the risk. It will be seen from the figures that during the second
period the contact-attack rate was slightly greater in respect of
both hospital-treated and home-treated cases; but the differences
are not sufficiently great as to be statistically significant.

Treated in hospitals—
Leyton Isolation Hospital 136
L.C.C. Hospitals 2
Walthamstow Isolation Hospital 4
Plaistow Fever Hospital 9
Whipps Cross Hospital 1
152
Treated at home 9
161