London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Islington 1898
Forty-third annual report on the health and sanitary condition of the Parish of St. Mary, Islington
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55
[1898
"The disease was first noticed in the neighbourhood of Richard and
Trinity Streets towards the end of October under circumstances which
have been fully explained in my last annual report, pages 98 et seq., and,
therefore, it will be unnecessary to go into details now, particularly as
the conduct of the School Board, therein detailed, is not likely to be
repeated.
"Almost immediately afterwards I received information of its
appearance in the neighbourhood of Hornsey Road and Poole's Park,
and inquiries led to the closing of the Infants' Department of St. Anne's
Church School and of Upper Hornsey Road and Poole's Park Board
Schools. At this time the disease also became prevalent in that portion
of the district which is bounded on the—
North-west by St. John's Road.
South-east by Fairbridge Road.
South-west by Ashbrook Road.
North-east by Mulkern Road.
''From this centre of infection it seems to have travelled down
Hornsey Road, until the area around the Forster Board School,
situated on that road, became infected towards the end of January, at
which time many of the scholars were attacked, and it became necessary
to close the School.
"On the 11th of February the Infants' Department of St. Mark's
Church School, Grove Road, was closed because of the prevalence of
the disease among the infants, of whom 70, or more than a fourth,
were absent by reason of its presence in their homes.
" In February the disease was prevalent in the north-west of the
district, and particularly so in the neighbourhood of the Yerbury Road
Board School, whose infant classes were closed at a moment when no
fewer than 154 scholars out of 514 on the rolls were excluded because
either they were ill themselves or because their homes were infected.
" Within three days of this School being closed the disease was
found to be fatally prevalent in the neighbourhood of Dorset Street, and
consequently, the Infants' Department of the St. Paul's Church Schools
was closed on February 23rd, at which time 74 children out of 204 were
away from School.