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more concern in this matter. The information in the first instance
is derived from the scholars themselves—neighbours or
class fellows of the sick child. The standard of intelligence
varies at different schools—where infants predominate the information
may not be reliable, or forthcoming. Some schools
draw their scholars from quite a small area, others, like the Hugh
Mydde'ton School, draw from the whole borough and more readily
net centres of infection.
Some schools like the Hugh Myddelton have soecial departments—for
example, departments for defective and deaf children.
More care is taken of these special children—the parents themselves
come to explain the reason of absence, or the nurse who
calls for the children at their homes is told by the mother, or
some other adult is easily accessible and supplies the information.
In these special schools then the intelligence is often reliable and
precise. Some schools again may send notices of cases at once,
which are later found to be inaccurate—other schools give information
of a reliable kind only after the school visitor has cal'ed
and reported. It will be seen then, that the large number of
notices from any one school does not necessarily mean an epidemic
at this school, but also depends upon the acuteness and concern
of the teachers—the accessibility and reliability of the information,
and the distribution over the borough of the area from which
scholars are drawn.
BLACK SMOKE.
During the year, 81 special smoke observations were made by
the Inspectors.
Notices of 12 infringements were received from the London
County Council; two complaints were made by private persons.
In 24 cases the black smoke was emitted for three minutes or
longer, and, in respect of these, the action taken is given in the
table appended. Summary proceedings for the abatement are
taken under Section 24 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891.
Where the black smoke lasted less than three minutes, no action
was taken.