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42
The majority of the cases, as usual, were in children of school age,
particulars of these with the schools affected are given below.
The increase of cases was restricted to Grosvenor, St. Margaret,
St. John and St. Anne Wards. The numbers for 1907 and 1908 being
respectively, Grosvenor, 39, 56 ; St. Margaret, 22,91; St. John, 88,157;
St. Anne, 18, 39. In both the first and second Quarters of the year
the number of cases was in excess of 1907; the third Quarter had no
excess, but in the fourth there were 120 cases more than the same
period of 1907.
In the earlier part of the year there was a good deal of Scarlet
Fever in connection with the various barracks and army homes. This
however, died down before the holiday season. In September 11 cases
of scarlet fever were found to be associated directly or indirectly with
a girls' class in one of the schools in St. John's Ward. The 38 children
in the class were examined, and those reported absent were visited at
their homes, with the result that a child was found who had a history
of sore throat and enlarged glands on the 28th August, but the illness
was not severe, and no doctor had been called in. With the isolation
of this child and the prevention of other children in the house attending
school, the outbreak ceased.
A similar outbreak occurred during October and November in
Buckingham Gate School, and 40 cases were notified. The illness was
extremely mild and characterised by an absence of rash, so that in
several instances no doctor had been in attendance, and in other cases
it was impossible for the medical men who were called in to say that
the illness was due to scarlet fever. In conjunction with one of the
assistant medical officers of the Education Department (L.C.C.), the
children in the affected classes were examined. Lists were also
supplied me of children who were absent, and these were visited at
their homes (the County Council officers are not empowered to visit
outside the school), and in this way several cases were detected.
Eight or ten persons, other than those included in the above list,
were found who had probably suffered from this complaint.
In the same months 22 cases occurred at Pulteney School, and 25
in St. George's Road School. Small groups of cases also occurred in
connection with other schools, but prompt recognition and removal to
hospital checked any spread of the disease. In each of the schools
named above, the infection was undoubtedly kept up by slight
unrecognised cases, and until these were found fresh cases continued to
crop up. To find these cases it was necessary to visit the homes of the
children and to see the various members of the family, not limiting the
enquiry to scholars. Over 200 families were visited and 14 persons
were found, some recently taken ill, others recovering, and a few who