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36
The following is a tabulation of the numbers of cases of Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria and Measles
that have been notified during the past year as compared with those of 1906, from which the weekly
mean is deduced, in each case :—
Total number notified.
Weekly mean.
Disease.
Year.
All ages.
Children attending
public elementary
schools.
All ages.
Children attending
public elementary
school.
1905-6
19,892
7.400
382
142
Scarlet fever
1906-7
20,741
8,716
399
168
1905-6
6,553
1,977
126
38
Diphtheria
1906-7
7,987
2,645
153
51
1905-6
Not notifiable
22,157
—
426
Measles
1906-7
Not notifiable
19,065
—
367
The above table shews that there has been a considerable increase in the number of cases of
Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria this year and a great diminution in the number of Measles cases. There
is some fear that this may be the upward wave of an epidemic prevalence beginning. One particular
feature also to be noted is the extreme mildness of both scarlatina and diphtheria in the present forms.
The following table shews the average number per week of children attending public elementary
schools suffering from Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria in relation to the average number of all persons,
expressed as a percentage.
The numbers of school children for the first three years represent those
attending Provided schools ; the numbers for the last two years indicate all children attending public
elementary schools (Provided and Non-provided):—
1902-3.
1903-4.
1904-5.
1905-6.
1906-7.
Average per week.
Average per week.
Average per week.
Average per week.
Average per week.
Disease.
All Persons.
Board School
Children.
Per cent.
All Persons.
Board School
Children.
Per cent.
All Persons.
Provided School
Children.
Per cent.
All Persons.
Provided and XonProvided
School
Children.
Per cent.
All Persons.
Provided and NonProvided
School
Children.
Per cent.
Scarlet fever
326
100
31
228
64
29
278
76
27
382
142
37
399
168
421
Diphtheria
193
51
26
135
37
27
137
31
23
126
38
30
153
51
33
School Closure.—School closure is adopted principally in measles outbreaks. When
a classroom is closed on account of measles, a card, M.O. 19, is given to each child excluded on that
account cautioning the parents, in the event of their children showing symptoms of the disease, to keep
them from contact with other children and from exposure in public places. Closure is also resorted
to in cases of scarlet fever, but only when the infection can be definitely traced to school influence or
when the disease becomes threatening. The usual course followed in scarlet fever outbreaks is to send
a Medical Inspectogh investigation into all the circumstances
in connection with the outbreak and to examine the children with a view to the exclusion
of suspicious cases of a post-scarlatinal nature or those exhibiting symptoms. By means of the Medical
Inspector's report, the Medical Officer (Education) is able to decide as to whether or not school influence
has contributed to case recurrence.
Diphtheria is under special treatment, whereby closure is rarely necessary. School closure
is rarely resorted to in cases of mumps, whooping-cough or chicken-pox, since there is an absence of
evidence to demonstrate its utility.
The numbers of schools under observation throughout the year for the three most dangerous
diseases affecting school children are as follow :—
Diphtheria—Provided 94) ,
Non-provided 20) 114
Scarlet Fever—Provided 248 340
Non-provided 92
Measles—Provided 356) 506
Non-provided 150