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those absentees who are away from illness; he should possess the
power of entering and examining any scholar or scholars at any
time when he has reason to think such action desirable in the public
interest; and he should also have the power of arranging for a
medical inspection of all the scholars when he considers such a step
advisable. Short of the adoption of these measures compulsory
education will continue to be linked with some measure of compulsory
disease.
SCARLET FEVER.
The 146 cases of Scarlet Fever occurred in 109 different houses,
in 4 of which there were grave insanitary conditions ; in 6 the insanitary
conditions were slight, and in the remaining 99 there was an
absence of such conditions.
School attendance was ascribed as the origin of the infection in
16 cases; and in three cases there were strong reasons for believing
that the infection was communicated by a patient recently dismissed
from a Fever Hospital.
NOTES UPON SANITARY WORK PERFORMED
DURING THE YEAR
It will be seen from the appended Report of the Chief Sanitary
Inspector that a large amount of sanitary work has been performed
during the year 1898. 1447 premises were inspected for conditions
injurious or dangerous to health, and insanitary conditions varying
in their nature from slight to very grave, were discovered in a large
number of instances. 859 Intimation Notices, followed in 120
cases by Statutory Notices, were complied with.
Of this number only 181 inspections were made as the result
of complaints by householders and others, and this circumstance will
serve to accentuate the importance of prosecuting a fairly constant
system of house-to-house inspection in at least the poorer parts
of the Parish. It is difficult to over-estimate the value such a
measure has in preventing the origin and spread of preventable
sickness.