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62
During 1906, one school had to be closed on account of
Diphtheria, viz., the Infants' department of Upper Kennington
Lane Schools. Exclusion of infected scholars (bacteriological
examination*) was tried at first but without complete success,
the disease increasing. It was thought advisable, therefore, by
the Sanitary Authority to close the class affected, and this was
done, with the result that the outbreak was stamped out. It is
for the Sanitary Authority to decide whether or not school or
class closure is desirable, in view of an outbreak of infectious
disease. It may be stated that, speaking generally, school
closure is unnecessary for preventing the spread of diphtheria.
Instances crop up, however, from time to time, as in that
mentioned above, where school closure is necessary, e.g.,
where home-contacts play an important part, and in a district
that has not been leavened by some continuance of diphtheria
prevalence, whereby a large amount of immunity has been
acquired.
An outbreak of Diphtheria in June, connected with St. Mary's
Infants' School (Lambeth Road), was traced to an open sewer—
10 cases in all. Bacteriological examinations were conducted,
and all children who shewed in their throats or noses either
true diphtheria bacilli or suspicious germs (pseudo bacilli) were
excluded from school—a total of 17. In this instance, child
exclusion was sufficient, and class closure was unnecessary.
The distribution of the disease in the different Registration
Sub-Districts of the Borough of Lambeth, together with the
numbers of deaths amongst both hospital-, and home-treated
patients, etc., during 1906, are as follows :—
*Diphtheria bacilli were found in 18 cases, and the pseudo bacilli in 11.
All these 29 scholars were excluded from school.