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throats of these five children, and all of them, on bacteriological
examination, were found to be suffering (clinically or bacteriologically)
from true Diphtheria.
These patients were immediately removed for isolation to
the School Infirmary (a separate building admirably fitted for the
reception of infectious cases).
One of these patients was a pupil in the Senior School
(Marjorie S—), and in consequence of her illness proving to be
Diphtheria it was decided to medically inspect and swab all the
children in the dormitory in which she slept. As a result another
child (Edith R—) was found, on bacteriological examination,
to be suffering from Diphtheria. These were the only cases which
occurred in the Senior School during the course of the outbreak.
As a result of the presence of Diphtheria having been discovered
amongst some of the children in the Junior School it
was arranged to inspect and swab, for bacteriological examination,
all the children, teachers and attendants in that part of the
Institute. The Junior School is a recently erected building, situate
at the opposite side of the grounds from the main building which
accommodates the senior girls. The Junior School is admirably
planned, and contains all the latest improvements; the classrooms,
dining rooms, and dormitories being well lighted and
ventilated; and the sanitary fittings being of the most modern
pattern.
During the course of the outbreak the total number of cases
notified as suffering from Diphtheria was 27 (25 pupils and 2
attendants). The former were all treated in the School Infirmary,
and the latter were removed to the Metropolitan Asylums Board
Hospital. In addition to these, 11 other children, in whom no clinical
symptoms of the disease were apparent, but in connection with
whom bacteriological examination showed the presence of Diphtheria
bacillus, were isolated and injected with antitoxin, and were
not allowed to return to school until after repeated bacteriological
examinations of swabs taken from their throats or noses had
failed to disclose the presence of the Diphtheria bacillus or other
suspicious organisms.