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15
During the present year, 1913, we have had another
outbreak common to all parts of the District owing to the
first cases not having been notified. On this occasion
forty-nine cases were reported.
The principal cause of the failure of the scheme is the
failure on the part of medical men to notify the first cases,
the excuse being that they are unaware that the disease is
required to be notified, as it is not so in any of the surrounding
Districts.
Since the recommendation to add this disease to the
Schedule of those required to be notified was made, circumstances
have considerably altered in the District. The latter
has been intersected by railways and the means of transit have
been facilitated. The Education Authority has instituted
a system of notification to myself through the Schcol Master
of all cases of absence from school from alleged infectious or
contagious diseases. Some of the neighbouring Districts
have so increased that they have new Schools near to our
boundaries so that children living near the latter attend
school outside the District.
It is now thought advisable to discontinue the compulsory
Notification of the disease for the above reasons and
especially as the disease is not required to be notified in any
of the neighbouring Districts and as little or no advantage
can now be gained by it.
The Greenford Council endeavoured to induce the surrounding
Districts to make the disease notifiable but without
success.
In the meantime the appended hand bill has been freely
circulated and any steps that may be necessary will be taken
on receipt of a report of a case from the School Master.
(Signed) GEORGE HOPE, D.P.H., L.R.C.P., etc.,
Medical Officer of Health.