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41
Of the cases voluntarily notified during the year, in 11 or 44
per cent. there was no family history of the disease, and in 3 others
the information obtainable as to family history was indefinite.
CEREBRO-SPINAL FEVER.
This disease occasions serious mortality in America, and in
certain localities on the Continent of Europe, but fortunately in this
country it is of rare occurrenoe. There is, however, reason to believe
that the disease may be less uncommon in the United Kingdom than
has hitherto been supposed; and recently the identification of a few
cases in London occasioned some alarm. Happily, however, there has
been no serious extension of the infection, and, indeed, it is by no means
certain that the disease is spread to a great extent by direct infection
from person to person. In our present state of knowledge, however,
should such cases occur it is most desirable to apply suitable measures
of disinfection, and to secure, so far as possible, the isolation of the
sick from the healthy.
CLEANSING OF PERSONS ACT, 1897.
During the year the Public Health Committee decided, in
response to a letter from the Education Officer of the London County
Council, to undertake to treat children with verminous bodies and
clothing as verminous persons have hitherto been treated under the Act.
Such children are excluded from school, and often lose the advantages
of education for several weeks as a consequence, where it is difficult
or impossible for the mother to free the child from vermin. The
facilities for such cleansing are not what they might be in Stoke
Newington. We have to avail ourselves of the Hackney Borough
Installation, which is some distance from us; but there is a prospect
that in the future we may have a very central disinfecting station in
connection with the Destructor which is being erected near the Town
Hall.