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It will be seen that a greater number of cases of diphtheria occurred
on the Isle of Dogs during the year 1897 than in a like period
of any of the four preceding years From the Island 130 notifications
were received, and 30 patients died, giving a case mortality of 23.3
per cent.
The prevalence of diphtheria in this portion of the district caused
a large amount of anxiety and was brought under the notice of the
Sanitary Committee. Cubitt Town was the principal sub-division on
the Island where the inhabitants suffered mostly from the complaint.
The Cubitt Town and Glengall Road Board Schools were the schools
in the affected area, but most of the cases were in attendance at the
former school. It was pointed out to the Committee that a mild
case of diphtheria could be easily overlooked, and, if considered by
the parents as an ordinary cold and the child allowed to attend at
a school, diphtheria would very likely break out.
The Medical Officer of the School Board for London was informed
of the large number of diphtheria cases happening among the scholars
attending the Cubitt Town Board School. In the letter to him
it was stated there was a rumour in the district that the disease was
spread through the slates and pencils, and it was requested that he
would lay this matter before the School Board in order that each
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