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8
Scarlet Fever.
Fifteen of the Scarlet Fever cases occurred in the early
part of the year among children attending the County
Council Schools, Northwood. They were all mild cases,
and the infection seems to have been spread by two missed
cases, i.e., two children found on examining the children
at the Schools to be in the peeling stage of the disease.
The type of Scarlet Fever throughout the whole year
has been so mild (a slight evanescent rash and no marked
illness) that it is probable that many cases were missed,
not being notified, as parents hardly noticed that the
children were ill. This accounts for the spread of the
infection and the difficulty of stamping out the trouble.
Diphtheria.
There was an epidemic of 9 cases at the Ruislip Church
Schools in October and November.
The first case was notified by the Medical Officer of
the Gt. Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London. It
was a case of nasal Diphtheria and was diagnosed by the
Bacteriological examination of a swab taken from the
child's nose. There were no signs of throat infection.
From this child having attended the Schools, eight other
cases arose. All children in the School were examined on
three different occasions and swabs were examined from
all suspicious cases. The School premises were cleaned
and disinfected ; at the end of three weeks no new cases
were discovered.