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In scarlet fever outbreaks occurring in London closure is now seldom
applied, individual inspection and exclusion of suspicious cases being
found to be of much greater utility in controlling the disease. Diphtheria
is controlled by means of bacteriological investigation, and the
exclusion and notification of children found to be harbouring bacilli.
School closure for diphtheria, except in unusual circumstances, may
mean loss of control of dangerous cases. Thus, in connection with Holy
Trinity School, 44 children were excluded on account of suspicious
throats. As a result of examination, some of these proved to be welldefined
cases of diphtheria; others showed no distinctive signs, but had
the specific organism in their throats. Two of the children had
evidently been ill some weeks previously, and were probably acting as
sources of infection in the school.
Exclusion from School of Children returned home from Hospital
after Isolation on account of Infectious Disease.—At a conference of
Metropolitan Medical Officers it was resolved : " That in future the
periods of exclusion from school for children returned home after
isolation in hospital should be those laid down in the memorandum 011
Closure of and Exclusion from School, viz., for Scarlet Fever, two weeks
for returned patients and contacts; for Diphtheria, four weeks (sometimes
two weeks) for returned patients, and for contacts two weeks."
Sixty-four rooms in 11 schools were disinfected, together with
books and other articles.
The Health Society has co-operated with the various School Care
Committees, and 276 children were specially visited, among these being
65 suffering from ringworm. The care of children after measles and
whooping cough is a matter of special importance where there is known
to be a family history of phthisis.
A conference was held between the Medical Officer for Education 1
and the Metropolitan Medical Officers of Health in order to endeavour
to secure co-operation on definite lines. It is evidently now being
recognised that it would have been more satisfactory had the machinery
of the Borough Councils been utilised from the first in dealing with
school inspection and supervision.
There are 15,548 children on the rolls of primary schools in
Westminster.
Regulations made by the County Council prescribing the action to
be taken in cases of infectious diseases occurring in a house in which a
O
teacher is living:—