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Street, Canal Road, and Napier Street Board Schools. In 95 instances the disease
mentioned was measles, in 26 scarlet fever, in 20 chicken-pox, in 18 diphtheria, in
eight ringworm or other skin diseases, in two enteric fever, in one whooping cough,
and in 19 the disease was not specified, being simply termed "infectious."
The exclusions were most numerous in connection with Curtain Road
and Canal Road Schools, principally for measles, Gopsall Street School for
scarlet fever and diphtheria, and Haggerston Road School on account of
chicken-pox and measles.
In consequence of a communication from the School Board authorities, directing
attention to the number of cases of measles which were occurring amongst children
attending the Canal Road Board School, on November 3rd the school was visited, and
from enquiries made it was ascertained that of the children attending the infants'
department, over 40 per cent, were absent, mainly on account of the prevalence of
measles. As it appeared probable that the attendance in the infants' department
was likely to be still further diminished, it was thought advisable for
the department to be closed altogether. The whole of the infants' department,
consisting of seven class rooms and two cloak rooms, were closed for altogether
17 days, during which period the rooms were fumigated and thoroughly cleansed
and aired throughout.
DISINFECTION.
During the year 1899 disinfection was carried out at 961 premises by the Vestry's
Officers. The number of articles brought to the Vestry's Disinfecting Station and
disinfected was 13,913, and included 1,102 beds, 2,001 pillows, 948 palliasses, 696
bolsters, and 9,166 miscellaneous articles such as clothing, curtains, carpets, and other
textile articles and leather goods. There were 10 beds, 12 palliasses, 7 pillows, and
1 squab destroyed, being so contaminated and in such bad condition that it was not
advisable to return them. These were all replaced by the Vestry with new ones.
There was no damage done to any of the articles disinfected at the disinfecting station,
nor was there any damage caused by the measures taken for the disinfection of any
of the premises dealt with during the year. So far as can be judged the results of the
measures taken for disinfection were satisfactory.
In the subjoined table are contained the numbers of premises and articles
disinfected during the seven years, 1891-98:—