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Measles and Chickenpox were most prevalent in February
and March; Mumps in March, October and November;
and Whooping Cough in February and from September to
the end of the year. No schools or departments were closed
for infectious diseases during the year. The children of two
classes in Wimbledon Park School were excluded on account
of Chickenpox and Measles respectively for a limited period.
These exclusions were made more on account of reduced numbers
in classes than by the hope of benefit. An outbreak
of Conjunctivitis in one class was checked by the exclusion
of individual scholars.
In June 1926 3 cases of Diphtheria were admitted to
the Isolation Hospital at intervals of a few days from Pelham
Infants School. I visited the School, examined all
the scholars, and swabbed suspicious cases in classes.
One child was , positive and was admitted to the
Isolation Hospital until a virulence test was carried out.
This result proved virulence. Meanwhile, the teacher and
another child who had been absent, were notified as Diphtheria,
and I therefore closed classes V. and VI. for 10 days.
No further cases occurred during closure, or on re-opening.
In an outbreak such as this, the classrooms are thoroughly
disinfected, more especially as to class equipment. In the
case of non-infectious diseases, disinfection of classrooms
during an outbreak is of little or no value. The diseases are
spread from case to case, either by direct contact or "droplet"
infection, and there is no evidence that the actual classroom
or equipment plays any part in the spread. A thorough
ventilation and cleansing of the classrooms is all that is
necessary.
FOLLOWING UP:—The arrangements made for securing
the treatment of defects discovered are very complete,
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