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82
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
In all, 17 schools remained free from Diphtheria, and of these
15 were non-provided schools.
In connection with cases of Diphtheria occurring in elementary
schools, the Medical Officer, Education Department, London
County Council, took specimens from the throats of children in
certain classes in four schools during the year. In March, a
number of swabs were taken from children in Smallwood Road
School, but no Klebs Loeffler bacilli were found, although in five
children suspicious organisms were detected. These children were
excluded and their homes visited, but no cases of true Diphtheria
resulted from them.
In June, the children at New Road School were examined,
but none were found with suspicious organisms present.
In December, as stated in the special report on the subject,
the children at Roehampton School were examined.
Prompt examination of children's throats is a most important
factor in preventing outbreaks of this disease, as "carrier" cases
can at once be excluded. These "carrier" cases may, and very
frequently do, present no clinical symptoms, and some difficulty
has been experienced in bringing home, not only to parents, but
also to medical men, the fact that as far as schools are concerned,
these "carrier" cases are cases which the Health Authorities must
keep under observation, and which should be isolated until a
negative result has been obtained by bacteriological examination.
Of the total number of cases of Diphtheria, 201 or 31.9 per
cent. occurred among children under five years of age, 326 or 51.9
per cent. from five to 15 years, and 102 or i6.2 per cent. over 15
years.
Of the 512 cases removed to hospital, 54 were reported not
to be suffering from Diphtheria.
Drainage defects were found in 92 of the houses in which
cases of Diphtheria occurred.