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The statistics with regard to the infectious diseases showed
a rise in the incidence of scarlet fever for 1937. The increase
in the number of cases occurred for the most part in the Hyde
Ward, and, in particular, amongst children attending the Oliver
Goldsmith School. The occurrence, however, is better described
as having been due to a low endemicity rather than that it was
an epidemic. Throughout the whole period careful observation
of the possibilities of spread was made and close co-operation
maintained between the County Council school medical service
and the public health services of the Borough. There can be
little doubt that there was a certain persistency of the infection
from a number of very mild cases, or perhaps cases in whom
the recognisable signs of scarlet fever were absent. Every
help was given by the Headmaster and Teachers of the school,
while all possible channels of infection were gradually
eliminated.