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were concealed and treated at home, I found indubitable evidence that
the disease had been communicated to other persons; in several
instances inhabitants of the houses on both sides of that containing
the infected person took Small Pox.
As at present conducted the method of removal to hospital is open to
objection ; for when an ambulance drives up to a house for the purposo
of removing a patient a mob of idle persons speedily collects, and the
patient is frequently carried across the pavement between a double
row of spectators, who do not recognise that they are exposing themselves
to the risk of contagion.
An outbreak of oighteen cases in Lisbon Street was clearly traced
to this cause, and I have no doubt that enquiry would reveal many
more instances,
The men who conduct the removal should be armed with portable
fire engines charged with a strong solution of carbolic acid under
prossure, with these they could soon disperse the spectators by playing
upon them, ostensibly for purposes of disinfection.
SCAELET FEVER.
(.Decennial average, 112.1).
The cases of Scarlet Fever reported to us were 264 in number.
The disease proved fatal to ono hundred persons; seventy-four less
than last year; eighty-two wore infants and young children.
Early in July, Scarlet Fever broke out in the family of the caretaker
of the Olga Street Board School A child sickened first, and was
removed to hospital. Three days afterwards the head of the family—
the caretaker himself—took the disease, and was also removed to the
Fever Hospital. As soon as I received notice of these cases I visited
and examined the building. I found the caretaker's house to be part
of the school building, and so situated with respect to the entrance to
the class rooms that it could not be separated, so that isolation was
impossible. There were three other children remaining at home who
had been exposed to infection; and it was quite likely that one of these
might sicken at any time, and thus help to spread disease amongst
the children attending school. Under these circumstances I felt it my
duty to advise tho immediate closure of the schools. I called upon
tho Chairman of the Sanitary Committee, and obtained from him a
formal order to this effect, which I transmitted to tho proper quarter;
but in order that no time should be lost I saw Mr. Beven, one of tho