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35
4th Quarter.— East Greenwich, 22 cases; West Greenwich,
7; Charlton, 4; Kidbrooke, 1;
a total of 34 cases.
All persons of school age who are known to have been
in contact with a case, and, where suspicion arises, adults
as well, are examined with a view to stopping the spread
of infection. In this way one frequently finds the
person who has apparently been the original cause of the
outbreak, their illness having been in many cases, and
continuing to be of such a mild character, in fact the
only symptom being a cold and sore throat as it is
thought, whereas on careful examination one finds the
specific organism present. Further enquiries shew that this
cold and sore throat was in evidence before the first case
was notified in the house, hence one may be legitimately
excused if one considers that this case might have been
of an infectious character almost from its commencement,
and that on more suitable soil being infected the disease
manifested itself in a more virulent form. Cases in point
might be frequently given, but the two following will
suffice:—
On making enquiries with respect to the origin of the
infection in a notified case—child W.—11, F. Road—no
source of infection could be found in the house or other
members of the same family. The information was obtained
that this child had been a constant companion of
a neighbouring child—D., at 17, F. Road—and that this
companion had been suffering from what was presumed to
be a cold and sore throat for some weeks. On visiting
this house it was found that some of the children were
still complaining of having sore throat, but were attending
school. One child, however, who was obviously too ill to
attend school was examined, and was found to be definitely
suffering from Diphtheria, this being the companion referred
to above; on further examining the other children