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53
themselves attendants at Knee Hill School, or other children in
the house attended this School. It is obvious then, that it is to
the School, rather than the locality that we must look as the
principal source of the disease.
32. Of the 45 cases at Abbey Wood 6 occurred in one house
between the 1st and 10th of January, 5 of which must be
attributed to personal infection (before medical attendance and
isolation) in a dirty and overcrowded house.
There were no cases after this till the 9th March, but from
that date till the 18th June cases were notified every few days.
After that day only one case occurred.
On April 4th I reported to the Vestry that 10 cases had
occurred in connection with Knee Hill School "that there has
only been one case of Diphtheria recently in the Erith side of
Abbey Wood. The evidence points plainly to the Knee Hill
School being the probable source of the prevalent Diphtheria at
Abbey Wood. I have written to Professor Smith on the subject.
I think this is just a case where all the children attending the
school should be examined for latent Diphtheria. The drains
have been tested by the School Board and found satisfactory."
Unfortunately, by the School Board's direct prohibition, I am
not allowed to examine children in their schools myself.
33. In consequence of a further report, dated 16th May, on
the continued prevalence of Diphtheria at Abbey Wood, in
which I stated that as I could not examine the children and
exclude suspected ones the only way would be to close the
whole school, the Yestry directed a letter to be sent to the
School Board asking them to allow me to examine the children.
The Board did not grant this request, but apparently as a result
of it one of the Board's Medical Officers came down on the