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41
III.—INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
§1—DISCOVERY AND DIAGNOSIS.
It is well to know that unrecognised eases largely spread infectious diseases.
Discovery.—Mild cases of indisposition or disease excite no particular
attention, or are attributed to other than the real cause by parents, guardians,
or friends, and are not submitted to medical examination. In the autumn
there are generally several instances of parents and guardians failing to
recognise as infectious cases of slight disturbances of health in children until
other children become infected and develop typical symptoms.
When cases of suspected infectious diseases occur there is sometimes
considerable difficulty and delay in making an exact medical diagnosis in
certain types of the diseases. Here bacteriological and additional clinical
examinations are brought to bear upon doubtful types, and to check or confirm
the diagnosis.

Infectious Diseases fall into several categories—
(a) Permanent compulsorily certifiable diseases.
(b) Permanent voluntarily certifiable diseases, e.g., consumption.
(c) Temporary compulsorily certifiable diseases, e.g., chicken-pox when
small-pox is present.
(d) Non-certifiable diseases—
(i.) Diseases notifiable by School Teachers, e.g., measles, whooping
cough, mumps, tonsilitis.
(ii.) Communicable Disorders notifiable bv School Teachers,
e.g., ophthalmia (blight), ringworm, impetigo, scabies,
pediculosis.
(iii.) Suspicious Symptoms, e.g., sore throat, feverish cold,
whooping, vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, &c.