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vii.
type of the disease, or the growing up among us of a population
more resistive to its attacks.

Towards the end of September I found that a comparatively large number of notifications of diphtheria were received
of children who had been attending the Infants' National School
at Dulwich. The notifications were of those especially from
the baby class, who occupy a separate room from the older
scholars. From the throats of children attending this latter
class I took swabs at random and forwarded them to the
Bacteriologist; the result, however, in the majority of cases
was negative. I did not, therefore, feel justified in recommending that the school as a whole should be closed, except
for the purpose of disinfection. But I advised the exclusion of
the relatives not only of the patients but also of the others who
attended the baby class, in addition to those who were found,
on bacteriological examination, to be affected.
The disease in the majority of cases was of an exceedingly mild type. As a result of my advice the school was
closed for a period of three weeks by order of the Chairman
and Vice-Chairman of the Public Health Committee. The
result was eminently satisfactory, for the disease showed a
marked diminution, and since then has not been remarkable
for its prevalence in that neighbourhood.
Between November 21st and December 4th there was
a marked increase in the number of enteric fever cases
certified. Careful inquiry was made into all possible sources
of infection but without discovery of any suspicious article of