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the school at least once each day, the course of the outbreak being
kept under constant review. A circular letter was addressed to
local general practitioners, informing them of the position of all
cases of diarrhoea encountered in their practice. Neighbouring
local authorities were kept informed of developments.
By November 24th it appeared that, although the rate of
spread was apparently being checked, fresh cases were still
occurring. By that date 29 cases of Sonne Dysentery had occurred
in Garfield Road School, made up as follows:
Nursery School 20
Infants' School 5
Junior School 4
Seventy faeces specimens had been collected from cases or
contacts. It was known that Sonne Dysentery had appeared in a
nearby school in Friern Barnet, while the elder brother of a case
attending Garfield Road School had developed symptoms while
attending Arnos Secondary Modern School, also in the New Southgate
area.
The closest liaison had been maintained between the Public
Health Department and the Central Public Health Laboratory
Service (Edmonton Branch Laboratory), responsible for the
bacteriological investigations. A further conference was held
between the bacteriologist concerned and the Medical Officer of
Health. This was followed by a conference attended by the Chairman
of the Southgate Divisional Executive, the Borough Education
Officer, Chief Sanitary Inspector, Headmistress of Garfield Road
School and Medical Officer of Health. The position was fully
explained and discussed. As a result, the following measures were
at once put into operation:
1. Bacteriological Control.
(a) The twenty-eight children remaining in the Nursery
School at Garfield Road to be excluded on Monday,
November 27th, for at least a week (out of a total of fortyeight
children attending this Nursery School, twenty had
already been excluded). These children to be given a letter
for their parents explaining the situation in simple language
and requesting co-operation. Three specimen jars to be left
at each home for every member of the family, the specimens
to be collected daily over three days. All children showing
three negative fasces to be allowed to return to school on
Monday, December 4th, provided the entire family is clear.
(b) No child attending the Nursery School to be allowed to
return until all members of the family concerned have been
cleared, in accordance with the standard set out above,
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