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existed that the children were at school and mixing with their schoolfellows whilst
actually suffering from the disease before the nature of their illness was recognised.
In 47 other instances, although the patients themselves were not school-going children,
other children, either members of the same families as the patients or dwelling
under the same roofs, were attending school at the time the case wa.s certified. In
13 instances there were histories of cases of " sore throat'' in the families of the patients
or amongst the people dwelling in the same houses as the patients. In 12 instances
evidence pointing to infection from previous cases was obtained. In 90 instances
the houses in which the cases occurred were occupied by members of more than one
family, in 26 the houses were occupied by single families, and in 11 the cases occurred
in artizans dwellings. As to how far these figures are proportionate to the numbers
of persons dwelling as classed above, it is impossible at present to say. In 74 instances
the houses in which the cases occurred were satisfactory from a sanitary point
of view. There was nothing in connection with them which required action on the
part of the sanitary authority. In many the drains and sanitary arrangements were of
modem construction. In 26 the houses were fairly satisfactory, that is, minor defects
existed, but nothing serious required attention. In 27 the houses were in an insanitary
condition, some being dirty and overcrowded, and in others the drains were found
to be in a bad state, and there were other defects in connection with the sanitary
arrangements. As to how far these figures are proportionate to the numbers of houses
in the Borough classified according to their sanitary condition being satisfactory,
fairly so, or unsatisfactory, it is impossible to say. It may, however, reasonably be conjectured
that diphtheria is more likely to be met with in houses which are insanitary
than in those which are not, but the evidence upon this point is by no means conclusive.
ENTERIC OR TYPHOID FEVER.