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34
Several cases were alleged to be due to "return cases" of
Diphtheria from hospital, but there was not sufficient evidence.
Four cases of diphtheria occurred at milkshops, but in no case
did it spread. In all probability personal infection was the
cause of many more cases than the 38 traced to previous cases
or school influence.
Seven cases were traced, more or less directly, to Brewer
Street School and ten to Moreland Street School. The outbreak
at the St. Mark's School (Brewer Street) at first
assumed a serious aspect. (1) A child, F. W., aged 6, died
on February 14th, and at the inquest it was found that
the cause of death had been Diphtheria. This child attended the
school. Her illness began on February 10th, and her sore throat
on February 11th. She was last at school on February 10th.
(2) On February 17th, a child, E. W., residing in Noel Street,
Islington, but attending the Brewer Street School, died from
Diphtheria. (3 On Februarv 19th, R. M., a little girl of five
years, was notified to me as suffering from Diphtheria. This
child was sick in school (at Biewer Street) on the afternoon of
February 18th. She died on February 21st. These three fatal
cases of Diphtheria within seven days started the infection in
this school. It is not clear where or how they contracted the
disease. (4) On February 23rd, I received notification of Doris
D., aged five, who became ill with Diphtheria on February 20th.
She was at school last on February 18th and probably contracted
infection from R. M. or E. W. (5) Albert J., aged five, at
the same school, sickened on February 20th and was notified
on February 24th. (6) Mary G., aged four, sickened on February
20th and was notified on February 25th. She obtained
infection from R. H. or E. W. (7) On the same date Lilian
E., became ill with Diphtheria and was notified. She evidently
contracted the disease from the same source. (8) Her sister
followed. The school had been closed (see below), but when it
was re-opened (March 23rd), some child brought back the infection
of Diphtheria and two further cases occurred. (9) Maud E., aged