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4
The sanitary arrangements were at the same time overhauled, and
several defects detected, which were immediately made good.
St. Luke's Infants' School also became conspicuous at the same
time, six cases occurring up to October 1st, the last one being a
teacher. This school was closed from October 2nd to November 2nd.
Two cases were reported after the closing, one on October 9th
and one on the 27th; one of the two being a second case in an already
infected house.
When the school was re-opened on November 2nd one case was
reported next day, one on the 6th, and one (the last) on December
14th, making a total of 11 cases out of an average attendance of 90.
In addition to the foregoing schools, Chase Side Council Schools
engaged our particular attention. This is a very large school consisting
of three departments:—Boys', Girls', and Infants, the number
of scholars on the books and the average attendance being as follows:—
Boys' No. on Books 486
Girls' „ 495
Infants' „ 376
1,357
Average attendance 435.
,, 422.
,, 288.
1,145.
Having regard to the large attendance at this school, and to the
fact that Diphtheria had made its appearance among the children, I
saw Dr. Gaffikin, the School Medical Officer, who very kindly promised
to pay special attention to the scholars. Later on, hearing from her
that there were a large number of children suffering from suspicious
and doubtful-looking throats, and finding from an examination of
swabs she sent me that a good many of these suspicious cases were
really Diphtheria, and as by this time three of the boys, nine girls
and twelve infants had been notified by various medical men, I recommended
the closing of the school from October 10th to November
2nd, and this was done.
During the time of the closing 8 boys, 13 girls and 2 infants;
and from the re-opening to December 31st, 4 boys, 22 girls and 11
infants were notified, making a total for the whole period of the outbreak
of 15 boys, 44 girls and 25 infants.
Persistence in infection was particularly noticed in Standard 4b
in the Girls' School, following the re-opening, 11 girls in that
standard having been struck down by the disease in two months, and