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47
his own children from the school in question. It is satisfactory
to know that these children did not infect the two
children who had died, their illness having preceded that of
the offending children. Proceedings were taken against the
father for the offence of exposing his children in a public place,
and he was fined in the sum of £1 and costs. In another
instance the illness of a child from scarlet fever, in a
small street at Notting Hill, having been notified, the
Inspector visited the house with a view to obtain removal.
He was taunted for not having interfered vvith other cases in
the street (where several were known to have occurred)
and one of the neighbours let out that children living
at a particular house were "peeling" and going about as
usual. The Inspector at once visited the said house, and
found two children " peeling." I saw the children myself on the
following day, and there could be no doubt that both had
scarlet fever, although the mother pretended ignorance, whilst
not denying that they had been unwell, with a red rash, etc.
No medical man had been called in. It appeared that the
younger boy had fallen ill first; subsequently, an elder
brother being attacked, he was taken by his grandmother to
an empty house in another parish, where she was employed
as caretaker. The second child's illness was mild, and in a
few days he resumed his attendance at a large Board school.
It was impossible in this instance to prove guilty knowledge
on the part of the parents, and therefore no proceedings were
taken. A third and most glaring case of wilful self-exposure
came to light in July. The man had been expressly warned
of the nature of his illness, but he persisted in going about
as usual whilst "peeling"; and although specially enjoined
not to go to a private house where his mother was acting as caretaker,
during the absence of the family, it was discovered
that he went there daily. This man was a ciub patient, but
not being entitled to the doctor's attendance at home, he
went again and again to the doctor's residence in another