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Evidence was, however, obtained during tlie inquiries at houses at which a case had
occurred, which shows that the notified cases do not represent the whole amount of the disease
which existed in the district during the period included within the above dates.
The following are instances in proof of this——
(1.) On October 2Gth, a first case was notified from a house in Powis-street. This patient
was a scholar at Powis-street Board School, but was not the only case of illness in the house.
A sister, aged six, also a scholar at Powis-street School, was taken ill about October 22nd with sore
throat, but was not considered to be affected with diphtheria. She stopped away from school until
January, 1899, and in the interval suffered from. difficulty of vision and paralysis, which
undoubtedly showed that she had had diphtheria. During this child's illness (she was treated at
home) another sister, also a scholar at Powis-street School, but who resided at another house in
Woolwich, went home on several occasions and played with the invalid. She was not laid up with
illness, and attended school throughout.
(2.) On November 17th, a first case was notified as having occurred at Union-buildings,
the sufferer being a girl aged 10, who attended Powis-street School. The history of illness at this
house is as follows: About November 4th a female child, aged four, sister of the above, and a
scholar in the infant department of Powis-street Board School, was ill with a "cold," which was
treated for a week by her aunt. On November 11th, a brother, also attending the school, had a cold,
and did not return to school. He died suddenly on November 15th, and the disease was pronounced
to be diphtheria. The sister's complaint was then regarded as diphtheria. The third case occurring
in this family was taken ill on November 14th, and removed to hospital on the 17th. Of
these three only the last appears amongst the notifications.
As regards the notified cases set out in the above table, no information could be obtained concerning
six, owing to the families having left the houses in which the disease occurred, or other
cause. Out of the remaining 67 cases, four were probably imported into the district, leaving 63
which occurred in the district. These comprise 48 primary cases in houses, or 76.2 per cent., and
15 subsequent cases, or 23*8 per cent. The 48 primary attacks include 34 children attending
six different schools in the district and 14 persons (including children) who did not attend
school. Of the 34 scholars, 22, or 64'7 per cent., attended Powis-street Board School. The remaining
12 occurred amongst children at the five other schools.
22 cases attended Powis-street School (notified between Sept. 9th, 1898, aud Jan. 1st, 1899).
Average attendance, 1897-98, 551.
4 cases attended St. Mary's National Schools (notified on Sept. 9th, Nov. 18th and 19th, Jan.
18th). Average attendance, 1897-98, 623.
3 cases attended St. Michael's Church School (notified on Nov. 9th, Dec. 8th and 12th).
Average attendanoe, 1897-98, 640.
*3 cases attended Mulgrave-place Board School (notified on Dec. 6th, 9th and 26th). Average
attendanoe, 1897-98, 659.
1 case attended Union-street Board School (notified on Nov. 11th). Average attendance,
1897-98, 535.
1 case attended St. Peter's Roman Catholic School (notified on Sept. 14th). Average
attendance, 1897-98, 474.
The following diagram will serve to indicate more clearly the method of distribution,
of the 73 cases of diphtheria notified in Woolwich during the period to which the inquiiy relates.
Woolwich Diphtheria.
Period of time covered by inquiry : August 21st, 1898—January 28th, 1899.
73 notified cases
Information obtained as to 67. No information as to 6.
Imported into district, 4. Occurred in district, 63.
Primary attacks in houses, 48=76"2 per cent. Subsequent attacks in houses, 15=23.8 per cent.
(At any interval of time included in
period under consideration.)
6 of these were school attendants.
Non-scholars, 14=29.2 per cent. Scholars at 6 schools, 3t=70.8 per cent.
At 5 schools, 12=35.3 per cent. At Powis-street Board School, 22=64.7 per cent.
The dates of notification of cases amongst the children at Powis-street Board School, with
the approximate dates of onset of illness obtained by inquiiy at the homes, is set out in the
following table—
* The first case here occurred within a fortnight of an alleged transference of children from Powis-street
Board School.