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occurrence of cases in May to July that evidence pointing in this
direction was forthcoming. For the origin of the majority of the
cases occurring in the earlier months of the year, there was no
very satisfactory explanation. One of these cases was a child
suffering from the disease who came to live in the district from
Hanwell, another case was a scholar found in St. John's Infant
School in the peeling stage.
I have so often in previous reports dealt with the subject of
the spread of Scarlet Fever by means of slight unrecognised cases,
that I do not think it necessary to detail the circumstances under
which this happens. A brief history is furnished by the following
extracts from my reports.
August.
"I need scarcely say that the fresh outbreak of Scarlet
Fever is engaging my serious attention. I feel fairly sure that
infection is due in great part to unrecognised cases going about."
"On July 2nd, the head-mistress of Dudley Road Girls' School
sent home a scholar she found peeling on the hands. The girl was
absent from school April 28th—May 14th, and after that attended
regularly up to July 2nd. I have no doubt she was the means of
infecting two children in an adjoining house in Newell's Fields,
which we could not previously explain. Four of the other
admissions to the Hospital were children attending Clifton Road
Schools; there is reason to suppose they gave it to each other."
I reported on July 5th that the evidence was fairly clear,
that most of the cases of Scarlet Fever which had been recently
admitted to the Hospital were probably due to the infection
contracted from children attending Clifton Road Schools;
further evidence in this direction has since come to light. "On
July 6th we had two fresh cases in connection with this School.
One, a case which had been going to School regularly for a
fortnight whilst peeling freely; the other was a child in the same
standard at the same School."
On July nth, Dr. Young, the County Medical Officer, kindly
came down to Southall, and investigated the matter very
thoroughly. We visited all the Schools on the south side, and
examined the scholars in certain class rooms at Clifton Road
School; one child was found desquamating and was removed
to Hospital, this case proved subsequently to be undoubtedly
Scarlet Fever. Since July nth there have been two cases of
Scarlet Fever of scholars attending this School, notified on
July 17th and 24th.
Unfortunately, cases have occurred in connection with the
North Road Schools, and six of the admissions to the Hospital
since last meeting were scholars attending there. A case in the
peeling stage was found in this school.