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Under these circumstances the Committee considered it unnecessary to take
any further action in the matter.
This is an illustration of the want of knowledge of the responsibility of
individuals for rendering themselves familiar with the duties of sanitary
authorities in assisting them in similar cases, and it cannot be too generally
known that any person who gives, lends, sells, transmits, removes, or exposes,
without previous disinfection, articles which have been exposed to infection,
is liable to a penalty for so doing. Also that every sanitary authority is
bound to remove, disinfect, and return, free of charge, within their district,
any infected articles.
SCARLET FEVER-ST. BRIDE'S INFANT SCHOOL.
In consequence of the occurrence of a number of cases of Scarlet Fever at
this School a special investigation was made of the building and its
surroundings, in the course of which several grave sanitary defects were
discovered. At the time of your Medical Officer's visit the Managers had
already closed the School to obviate further spread of infection.
In order to comply with the requirements of the Education Board two
Members of your Worshipful Committee, acting upon my advice, signed a
formal order directing the closing of the School for twenty-one days, of
which the following is a copy:—
"To the Managers of the St. Bride's Infant School, Bride Lane,
"Fleet Street, in the City of London.
"We, the undersigned, being Members of the Sanitary Authority for the
"City of London, acting upon the advice of Dr. William Collingridge, Medical
"Officer of Health for the said City, do hereby order and require the closure
"of the Public Elementary School, known as the St. Bride's Infant School,
"situated in Bride Lane, in the City of London, for the period of twenty"one
days from the date hereof, with a view of preventing the spread of
"Scarlet Fever and the danger to health likely to arise from the general
"insanitary condition of the said School.
"Given under our hands this tenth day of October, 1902, at the Offices of
"the Public Health Department, Guildhall, E.C.
"(Signed) HY. A. SUMMERS,
" WALTER LOW."
The usual Notices were served to remedy the sanitary defects found, which
were duly complied with. The drains were thoroughly repaired, four new
closets constructed, and the premises cleansed and whitewashed throughout.
The Schools were re-opened in January of this year.