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63
There had previously been 2 cases amongst the Girls—notified
on March 31st and July 21st respectively. The School was
closed on December 14th, and remained closed until after the
Christmas holidays.* An inspection of the School premises was
made, and a special report as to the insanitary conditions found
sent on to the school authorities, with the result that the
premises have been since put into proper sanitary order and
condition—the sanitary fittings being brought up to modern
requirements. A copy of this special Report is printed in the
Appendix to this Report (pp. 71-73). At the same time, the old
brick sewer at the rear of the Schools was abolished, and a
9-inch pipe sewer substituted, with proper manholes as required,
at an estimated cost of £150.
Several cases of Scarlet Fever occurred during the last
quarter of 1903 in connection with Stockwell Orphanage—a
total 25 cases, of which 4 occurred in September, 5 in October,
3 in November, and 13 in December. By careful isolation of the
cases as they occurred—doubtful cases being isolated in the
Infirmary belonging to the Orphanage, and all cases of definite
Scarlet Fever being sent to the Hospitals of the Metropolitan
Asylums Board, the outbreak has been, practically, stamped out.
During 1903, "return" or "secondary" cases connected with
Scarlet Fever have been carefully investigated—such investigation
being now easy on account of the arrangement made with
the Metropolitan Asylums Board for previous intimation of all
discharged patients to be sent to the Medical Officers of Health of
the Districts concerned. 527 such intimations have been received
during 1903, dealing with all discharged Lambethian patients,
who had been treated for Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria, &c., in the
Hospitals of the Metropolitan Asylums Board. In no single case
was there any cause for complaint. In the best regulated
hospitals, a certain number of so-called "return" cases occurs.
*At the time of writing this Report (February, 1904), only one further
case (boy) of Scarlet Fever has occurred.