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rates, and also it is found that the prolonged detention of a
case of Scarlet Fever in an Isolation Hospital does not tend
to lessen the chance of carriage of infection on its return
home, but the reverse. It has been shown that a case
detained in Hospital nine weeks is more likely to cause a
"return" case than one kept in only six weeks, so that in
every way it is desirable not to detain a case of Scarlet Fever
in Hospital longer than is absolutely necessary.
During the past year there were six houses in which
there were return cases, viz.:—
J. F., 1st case notified 27th Jan., discharged from Hospital, 22nd Mar.
„ 2nd „ „ 28th Mar., „ „ „
G. B., 1st „ „ 17th Aug., „ „ „ 24th Sept.
„ 2nd „ „ 3rd Oct., „ „ „
S. W., 1st „ „ 3rd Oct., „ „ „ 1st Nov.
„ 2nd „ „ 10th Nov., „ „ „
N. P., 1st „ „ 2nd Oct., „ „ „ 21st Nov.
„ 2nd „ „ 4th Dec., „ „ „
R. C., 1st „ „ 23rd Oct., „ „ „ 10th Dec.
„ 2nd „ „ 14th Dec., „ „ „
E. B., 1st „ „ 21st Oct., „ „ „ 10th Dec.
„ 2nd „ „ 20th Dec., „ „ „
„ 3rd „ „ 23rd Dec., „ „ „
Of the above, one case, G. B., did not pass through the
Convalescent Home.
If the percentage of return cases can be kept down to
2.2 per cent. I do not think the district will have anything to
complain of, seeing that under the Metropolitan Asylums
Board the percentage at the present is 4.1; but it will be
impossible for us to maintain that figure if we are compelled
to fill up our wards for any length of time without intermittence.