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15
Five of the children were between the ages of 3 and 4 years,
six between 4 and 5 years, three between 5 and 6 years, one
between 7 and 8 years, three between 8 and 9 years, and six
over 10 years.
A report was presented to the Health Committee upon the
condition of the school, and though certain improvements were
suggested, it must not be inferred that school buildings in themselves
have much (if any) influence upon the propagation of
Diphtheria. Even where gross insanitary conditions exist, these
only act as predisposing causes in the spread of infectious disease.
Sewer gas, for instance, may cause an ulceration of the throat
and thus make the individual more susceptible to contract
Diphtheria; but the exciting cause must always be contact,
either direct or indirect with somebody who is harbouring the
germs. A person may be a carrier of the germs in his throat or
or nose without exhibiting any clinical symptons of the disease ;
or the symptons may be as mild, or even milder, than those of
an ordinary sore throat. It is this peculiarity of Diphtheria
which causes school attendance to be a factor in the spread of
the disease.
It will be observed that the cases occurred in groups, and
the cessation of notifications followed the detection of a mild
case, which was in attendance at school whilst suffering from the
disease.
When the cases from Railway Cottages were notified in
September, an examination of other children suffering from a
sore throat led to the discovery of Diphtheria in one of the
pupils. In the circumstances, it was deemed wise as an additional
precaution to close the school for 3 weeks.
Similarly, when a notification was received in October, a
child, in whose throat the Diphtheria baccili were found, was
attending school. As previously stated, following this last case,
freedom from the disease was experienced for a month; but on