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73
amination showing diphtheria membranes. The throats
and noses of all the children in the Ward were examined several
times bacteriologically—a total of 12 children—with the
result that 5 more cases of nasal diphtheria were discovered,
the remaining 7 patients being, apparently, free from the
disease, i.e., so far as clinical and bacteriological examinations
showed. Anti-toxin injections were used in all cases,
i.e., both as a curative and as a prophyllactic, and the noses
and throats of the patients were syringed daily with
disinfectant solution. The Ward was disinfected. There
was no further extension of the disease. Bacteriological
examinations were found to be invaluable, as also were
the anti-toxin injections.
School Outbreaks of Diphtheria.
(a) Gipsy Road School (Infants' Department).
During 1910, 2 cases of diphtheria occurred amongst the
scholars attending class-room D of the Infants' Department
of the Gipsy Road School, and instrtuctions were
given for the exclusion from such class-room of all children
suffering from sore-throat—the excluded children only to
resume attendance on being certified to be free from infection,
such certification to be based upon bacteriological
examinations. The Infants' and Junior Mixed departments
were disinfected and closed, to enable certain insanitary
conditions (found on examination) to be remedied, viz.:
(1) the existing trough closets to be replaced by separate
water closets, and (2) the ventilation of the drainage to be
improved.
(b) Kennington Road School (Infants' Department.
During 1910 (July), 2 cases of diphtheria occurred amongst
the scholars attending class-room D of the Infants' Department
of the Kennington Road School, and instructions
were given for the exclusion from such class-room of all
children suffering from sore-throat—the excluded children