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41
A few points in the above table of quarantine periods
require some explanation. The usual period of quarantine
enforced after exposure to the infection of scarlet fever varies
from 8 to 10 days, but in suggesting a longer period I was
influenced by the frequency with which cases are overlooked
until peeling commences. Again, in regard to measles, the
early symptons may readily be mistaken for those of an
ordinary cold. And in regard to enteric fever, the commencement
of an attack is often very indefinite. On the whole it
seemed better to lose a few more days schooling than run needless
risk.
The exclusion of all children from school who come from
houses where there is infectious disease considerably interferes
with regular school attendance, but I trust in time it may be
possible to modify the regulations so as to permit children who
have previously suffered from certain of the infectious diseases
to attend school, provided the invalid is properly isolated. At
present there are difficulties in the way of efficient supervision,
and we lack any trustworthy record of the children's infectious
disease histories.
School Closure.—Owing to the presence of epidemic
disease and the increasing number of absentees it was found
necessary to close the following schools during the course' of
the year:—
School. Disease. Inclusive dates of closure.
Christ Church Infants' Mumps 25th Feb. to 10th March.
„ „ Mixed „ „
St. Mary's Infants' Measles 18th June to 15th July.
St. John's Infants' Measles and 1st Aug. to 4th Aug.
Whooping Cough (end of term).
„ „ Mixed „ „ „ „ „
Holy Trinity Infants' Chicken-pox 10th Dec. to 21st Dec.
(end of term).