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62
(1). That about half the number of supposed "return
oases" were really due to eases leaving the Hospital
in an infectious condition.
(2). That these constituted at least 1.6 of the total
discharges.
(3). That 80 per cent. of the primary infective cases
are connected with discharges from the mucous
membranes (nose, throat and ear).
(4). That "return cases" are not due to premature
discharge and the isolation in Hospital is, if anything,
too long.
(5). That warm baths immediately before the patient
is sent out of Hospital, do not remove the infection
but contribute to its increase.
During the past year the result of a further investigation
has been reported by Dr. Cameron, to the Metropolitan
Asylums Board, and the following are his principal conclusions:—
(1). That the supposed infectious cases are 4.1 percent.
of the total number discharged.
(2). That the majority of these were probably the
actual causes of infection in the return cases.
(3). That although a large proportion of the iufecting
cases are those which have been detained beyond
the average time in Hospital, length of detention is
not in itself the cause of infectiousness.
(4). That the principal cause of the occurrence of
"return cases" is the persistence and recurrence of