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their absenteeism is in any way suspicious the parent may be persuaded to
obtain further advice. With regard to adult contacts present knowledge appears
insufficient to insist on any work being given up, but had any such contacts
in this present group been engaged in, for example, the distribution of milk,
an effort would have been made (based admittedly on poor grounds) to persuade
them not to work or to persuade their employers to give them a few days' leave.
One other point of some administrative importance is the locale for
treatment of the definite case and the query case. Most general hospitals appear
willing (perhaps a little unfortunately) to take in cases. Because of this the
first six patients in the group to come to the notice of the health authority
had been diagnosed in six different London and Middlesex hospitals and
altogether the 12 cases were distributed amongst eight hospitals (one hospital
had four). In the absence of other cases, diagnosis of an abortive case is apt
to be either missed or delayed, and even definite cases appear to be of less
importance. It is probably for this reason that five weeks elapsed before the
first case was notified. The setting aside of beds, preferably if not essentially
in cubicles and at one hospital, infectious or general, is advisable in order that
even merely suspicious cases can be isolated at an early stage, thereby reducing
the carrier and infective risk.
The following table shows the various infectious diseases (other than
tuberculosis) notified during the year and also their age incidence :—

* To London hospitals or institutions outside the district.
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