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74
School Influence. In 1870 the Elementary Education Act
was passed for the establishment of School Boards and Elementary
Schools.
Now, whereas during the decade 1861-70, the number of
deaths from Diphtheria decreased annually, during that of
1871-80 they increased annually.
Sir Thorne Thorne has so fully and so carefully entered
into this subject of . School Influence "that his conclusion that
increased school attendance has had a material influence in
increasing the spread of Diphtheria is irresistible.
Although I am of opinion that "School Influence" has been
a potent cause of the spread of Diphtheria, I cannot charge
"School Influence" with being the sole cause of the great
increase that has occurred since the year 1893. I would rather
suggest that the great increase is primarily due to one of those
peculiar waves that come over us in the form of an epidemic, the
cause of which is unknown at the present time. I have no doubt
but that in the course of time much useful knowledge on the
means of spread will be discovered both by the chemist and the
bacteriologist.
Whilst such men as Sir William Jenner and Dr. Wilkes on
the one side believe that the disease is in the main independent of
sanitary conditions or hygienic circumstances, and whilst Sir
George Johnson is diametrically opposed to their particular
views, it behoves us to look further afield for the cause. I am
inclined to think that our main drainage is faulty.
The main drainage system was laid in 1863, and the
engineer (the late Sir Joseph Bazalgette) made a statement at