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47
In 19 instances two members of the same family were
affected, in two instances three, and twice four members
suffered. From one house five persons were notified as
suffering from Diphtheria, but these belonged to two families.
Twelve members of the Hospital staffs contracted
Diphtheria.
In certain instances association with previous sufferers
could be traced.
A mother who visited her children at the hospital
contracted the disease.
A boy of 6 years of age had been resident in hospital for
five months suffering from Scarlet Fever. A week after his
discharge his brother and sister, aged 3 and 4½ years
respectively, fell sick with Diphtheria and were removed to
Hospital. The boy who had recovered from Scarlet Fever
was taken by his mother to visit those in hospital, and was
detained by the Hospital Superintendent because he was
found to be suffering from Diphtheria.
A Scarlet Fever patient returned from Hospital on 29th
January. On 10th February a girl of 14 residing in the
same house, but belonging to a different family, was removed
to Hospital suffering from Diphtheria.
I have reason to believe that great care is exercised
before discharging convalescents from Hospital to ascertain
that they are free from infection. Additional precautions are,
however, necessary, and the occurrences referred to above
point to the wisdom (1) of keeping children who have