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132 Annual Report of the London County Council, 1914.
There was a considerable increase during 1914 in the incidence of infectious diseases in places,
of detention, but it will be observed that the greatest number of cases occurred at Ponton-road place of
detention, where more than half of the inmates are infants under the age of seven years. It may be
of interest to refer to the outbreak of bacteriological diphtheria at Ponton-road. On the 16th March,
1914, a girl named J. M. was discovered to have a discharge from the eye, and material therefrom was
examined bacteriologically. In addition specimens were taken from the throat and nose ; these were
examined and diphtheria bacilli were identified in the culture. The case was notified and the girl was
removed to hospital on the 20th March. All immediate contacts were swabbed on the 23rd March.
These included R. II., who was suffering from a discharge from the ears and nose, and R. M., who was
also suffering from discharges from the nose, throat and ears. The bacteriological examination of the
cultures indicated that the two children referred to were harbouring diphtheria germs. R. H. was
notified and removed to hospital, but R.M. had already been sent to the infirmary owing to the
unhealthy condition of her throat, nose and ears, and the authorities of the infirmary were informed
of the result of the bacteriological examination. On the 24th March the remainder of the contacts
were swabbed, and eight of them were found to be harbouring germs of diphtheria and five were
sufficiently suspicious to warrant further cultures being examined. The eight children in respect of
whom positive results were obtained were removed to hospital and in due course were discharged as
free from infection. None of the children could be stated to have suffered clinically from
diphtheria.
The occurrence of 21 cases of scarlet fever among the children at Ponton-road place of detention
is a striking example of the wide prevalence of mild and unrecognised cases of the disease ; no
fewer than 9 of the cases were discovered in a condition of desquamation upon admission to the institution
before the children had had an opportunity of mixing with other inmates. These cases
occurred during the first seven months of the year. In the autumn, i.e. from 5th October to 27th
November, 12 cases of scarlet fever occurred, all of which developed after admission to the place of
detention. They may be classified in 2 groups with an intermediate isolated case. After careful
investigation it appeared extremely probable that the infection of the primary case in each group was
contracted in connection with attendance at the police court.
Group I.—This group in all comprised four cases, the first of which was notified on 6th October
This child attended the police court on 29th September, and as there was no evidence of infection
within the institution, it was assumed that the child must have come into contact with an infectious
person either at the court or during the journey. Three further cases occurred and were probably
infected by this child; one of these was notified on the 7th October, the two others on the 9th October
The children who were associated with the patients were kept in quarantine from the date of detection
of the first case and no further cases having occurred they were released from quarantine on the
24th October.
Isolated case.—On the 31st October a child, who had attended the police court on the 27th
October was found to be suffering from scarlet fever. The child was immediately isolated, and on
the following day was removed to hospital. It was improbable that there was any focus of infection
within the institution. No secondary cases occurred.
Group II.—This outbreak included 7 cases of scarlet fever, and once again the child, who
constituted the primary case, went to the police court four days before the onset of illness was discovered,
i.e., the child attended court on the 10th November and became ill on the 14th November.
Six further cases resulted.
Defective children.
During the year 7 new schools have been opened, 4 for mentally defective, 2 for physically defective,
and 1 for deaf children; 1 school for physically defective, and 2 for deaf children have been closed

Admission
examinations
In January of this year 4 additional schools for myopic children were opened, but one was closed.
During the earlier part of the year the procedure in regard to the special examinations of children
with a view to admission to special schools was on the lines set out in the last annual report, but during
the latter portion of the year the examinations for admission to special M.D. schools were conducted
in accordance with the following scheme, which was prepared for the purpose of carrying out the administration
of the Elementary Education (Defective and Epileptic Children) Acts, 1899 to 1914, and the
Mental Deficiency Act, 1913.
Elementary
Education
defective
and Epileptic
Children)
Acts, 1899 to
1914, and
Mental
Deficiency
Act, 1913.
(1) In every department of a public elementary school within the area of the Council a list of
children suggested as fit for schools for mentally defective children is kept by the head teacher. Head
teachers are required to present the list to the school doctor on each visit and to the psychologist on
his visits. If the school doctor or the psychologist considers that any of the children on this list should
be presented to the school medical officer for the statutory examination, the head teacher places their
names on the appropriate form and forwards it to the school medical officer with a view to the examination
of the children. The other children on the list undergo a period of special observation under the
general supervision of the psychologist. It is open to the school doctor or the psychologist to add names
to the list. Arrangements are also made by the Education Committee for the examination by a certifying
officer of any child at the request of his parents, or, in the case of a child not in attendance at any
school, on the nomination of a divisional superintendent.