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The decrease and subsequent increase were therefore most marked at the school age.
In the distribution of the cases throughout the year a proportionately larger number occurred
in the autumn than in 1894, the autumnal prevalence of 1895 being clearly marked. During 1895
the eastern districts of the county, in proportion to population, suffered most severely from scarlet fever
both in respect of the number of cases and number of deaths. The district of Limehouse had the
highest case rate, and of St. George-in-the-East the highest death rate. The district of St. Olave
experienced the lowest case rate, and no death from this disease occurred in that district.

Reference is made to the spread of scarlet fever through schools in the reports relating to
Chelsea, Westminster, Stoke Newington, Battersea, Lee (Eltliam), and Plumstead, thus:—
Chelsea.—Fifty-seven cases of scarlet fever occurred in the Duke of York's Royal Military
School.
Westminster.—The report contains account of two occasions in which the question of the
spread of scarlet fever by schools had to be considered.
In the first case at St. Margaret's School out of 20 cases of scarlet fever occurring in June and
July, 13 were cases of children attending this school; the disease abated directly the holidays commenced.
In the second case that of James-street Board School, especially in the infants'department, it
was observed that 11 out of 12 cases of scarlet fever notified between September 8th and October 4th
were those of children attending this school. On October 4th I communicated with the medical officer
of the School Board, with the result that this department (infants) was thoroughly fumigated and the
floors and desks washed with a solution of carbolic acid. It was then noticed that cases which had been
cropping up at intervals of a few days only ceased with one exception, namely that of a child who had
* See footnote (2), page 10.