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the closing of schools, children, in considerable numbers,
migrate from London, and it may be that the diminution
in the number of cases of scarlet fever in August is in
some part attributable to this migration. Such inquiry as
I have been able to make does not, however, lead me to
the conclusion that this circumstance affords sufficient
explanation of the reduction of scarlet fever during the
month of August. School operations must therefore be
further considered. I am not able to show for each week
the number of children in London who are attending
school, but so far as the operations of the schools of the
London School Board are concerned, the dates at which
the schools generally close and re-open can be given. It
is probable that the times of the closing and re-opening
of many other London schools correspond with the times
of the closing and re-opening of the Schools of the Board.
"In the diagram for the year 1893 the August depression
is still more marked. In this year the schools
generally closed on the 27th of July, i.e., nearly the end
of the 30th week, and re-opened on the 28th of August,
i.e., the beginning of the 35th week. Diminution in the
number of cases notified might be expected therefore
in the 32nd, 33rd, 34th, and 35th weeks, and the August
depression in the diagram corresponds with these weeks.

"There appears, therefore, to be a very close relation
between the August holidays and the diminution in the
amount of scarlet fever."