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15
between the ages of 10 and 13; but otherwise it was
thought that the closure of any particular school would
have led to no good result. Apart from the above
outbreak, the disease affected all ages, and both sexes
alike, and it was in connection with Mitcham only, that
this question had to be considered, and Mitcham is the
parish above all the others where, if a school had been
closed, the intercourse amongst the children would have
been as great as if it had not been closed.
I am sorry to say that only 47 cases out of the 172
which occurred, or 27 per cent., were removed to hospital.
During the 4 months, July to October, 35 per cent. were
removed, while after October only 13 per cent. were
removed. The reason for this difference is that after
October, the Infirmary at the Croydon Workhouse was
closed to all but pauper cases. Consequently, 25 cases
were due to defective isolation at home, but to this
number should be added several of those which I have
included amongst those deriving their infection indirectly
from schools. Thirty-seven were sporadic cases, besides
which there were six others which could not be traced
satisfactorily.
There were 8 cases, and possibly 12, which were
caused by infection lingering about those discharged
from the Croydon Infirmary. Even in the best-managed
hospitals, used only for isolation purposes, such unfortunate
cases undoubtedly occur from time to time. The
most striking example occurred in one house at
Addington. A girl employed in Croydon went home
ill, and was sent to the Infirmary. On her discharge 3
other children at her house, took the disease within a
few days; they were likewise removed, and 2 of them
died. On the discharge of the surviving child, 2 more
at home became ill, and of these 1 also died.