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49
Isolation of every possible case of this disease would be an expensive
and questionable procedure, and if those cases occurring in the homes
of outworkers, on business premises, in milkshops and laundries, and
from homes where special circumstances demand it, can be accommodated,
sufficient for practical purposes may be said to be accomplished.
The value of isolation hospitals in the prevention of spreading Scarlet
Fever has been seriously questioned, and the number of " return cases "
which occur with the most careful administration has made many
express the opinion that the results are not commensurate with the cost.
I have already expressed the view that with us a good amount of
isolation provision is essential, and went so far as to say that a good
case could be made out in favour of Isolation Hospitals.
To go into this question fully is hardly appropriate to an Annual
Report; it will be sufficient to say here that during the year 225 Scarlet
Fever patients were nursed at home, and in consequence 433 persons
under 15 and 524 over 15 years of age were exposed more or less to
infection.
Of these, 82 and 12 respectively caught the fever—that is, about 19
per cent. for children and 2 per cent. for adults.
From the 410 removed to Hospital, 673 under 15 years, and 971
over 15 years, were more or less exposed to infection for a short period.
Of these, 37 under and 6 over 15 years failed with the disease, that
is, less than 6 per cent. and 1 per cent. caught infection, as compared
with 19 and 2 per cent. in the case of those nursed at home.
Were those removed to Hospital nursed at home, we should have
had at least 125 more cases of fever, and as the average number of
persons under 15 years of age per house in the case of those nursed at
home was only 3, and that of those removed 5, it is fair to assume we
should have had at least half as many more cases as actually occurred.
I have received the following report from Dr. Gallatly, the present
Resident Medical Officer, who took up her duties at the Sanatorium
towards the end of the year. The Doctor, in compiling her report,
laboured under the disadvantage of not having personally dealt with the
cases, and in consequence her contribution lacks that personal impress
which vitalizes mere statements of facts.
The part played by the cubicles in the economy of administration
and the efficiency of isolation has not been mentioned, nor are any
numbers given of the cases that lodged in them, which otherwise exposed
to Scarlet Fever or Diphtheria would have run serious risks.
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