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105
[1897
I am also able to report that the disease has disappeared from 21 houses which were
reported as infected a fortnight ago, while the disease has appeared in 27 new houses.
Under these circumstances I have to advise that the schools should not be opened at
an earlier date than November 22nd, when I expect that the disease will have shown a
marked decrease. The present increase is probably due to the fact that the scholars were
infected on the eve of the closing of the school.
I have also ascertained from Dr. Glaister, Medical Officer of Health of Clerkenwell,
the information that he has 10 cases of illness, and that 5 scholars reported last meeting
have recovered, but under the school code they are not yet eligible to return to school.
I am,
Your obedient Servant,
(Signed) A. E. HARRIS,
Medical Officer of Health.
Vestry Hall, Islington,
8th November, 1897.
It is most sincerely to be hoped that this policy of thwarting the
sanitary authority of Islington will now cease. It has been pursued
long enough, and has certainly not increased the good name of the
School Board in this district. It began with the refusal to put
Yerbury Road Board School into a good sanitary condition until costly
legal proceedings were incurred, and the Board was mulcted in £5 5s.
costs. Then came a similar policy with regard to Hanover Street
Schools.
Next came the vexatious conduct with respect to Measles in 1896
and finally the matters just reported. This Vestry and its officials are
most anxious to work amicably and cordially with those of the School,
Board, whatever their position be, believing that such harmony can
only tend to the health of the district and the good of the schools, and,
therefore, it is trusted that better counsels will prevail on the Embankment,
and that the policy of running counter to the desires of this
authority in health matters will now be finally given up.
Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria.
There has for a long period been a grave discussion as to the dissemination
of these diseases by means of the schools, the latter disease
coming in for a large amount of attention, not merely from the medical
press but from the Medical Officer of Health to the London County