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Borough ; 6 were post-diphtheritic cases, notified from
hospital ; 4 were probably due to infection from fomites ; and
of the remainder no information as to the source of infection
could be obtained.
In three large boarding schools' in the Borough cases
occurred, but prompt removal to hospital and disinfection prevented
the spread of the disease.
As heretofore, considerable assistance was rendered by
many school teachers to the Health Department, by sending
immediate information of the absence or exclusion from school
of children through illness, which enabled the Medical Officer
of Health to make the necessary enquiries as to the nature of
the illness. There is still a great deal of carelessness displayed
by parents during the prevalence of epidemic diseases, in not
seeking medical advice for their children, when suffering from
what only appear to them to be slight ailments. This is
responsible in many instances for a large number of cases of
scarlet fever, which could have been prevented had timely
medical aid been sought. The desire of the parents that their
children should not lose their attendance medals is also responsible
for the spread of scarlet fever.* But more incomprehensible
still is the action of the Board of Education in abolishing
Article 101 of the Elementary Education (1901) Code. By this
Article a grant was made for all children excluded from attendance
at school on account of epidemic disease ; but the extraordinary
action of the Board in removing this salutary provision
is an inducement to teachers and others to keep up the attendance
of school children who may be found at the time to be
suffering from doubtful illness, and whose presence in the
schools may be the cause of the spread of infectious disease.
It was found necessary, owing to the prevalence of the
disease, by arrangement with the Education Department of the
London County Council, to close class rooms in six Council
and one non-provided Schools. The following were the
schools dealt with: —
*Since the above was written, the London County Council (Education
Authority) have revised the regulations as to school attendance medals, which
are not now to be withheld in cases of non-attendance of children for infectious
disease