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visited the school, and a large number of children found to be
suffering from sore throat were excluded.
I also obtained a list of absentees on account of sore throat and
other suspicious symptoms, and found several who were probably
suffering from a mild form of Scarlet Fever. Some of these were
sent to Hospital and others were isolated at home. In one—a
distinct but very mild case of Scarlet Fever—the parents, though
warned that the child was suffering and must be isolated, allowed
her to continue playing in the road. The father was summoned
and fined. This child was stated by friends to have nettle rash.
The steps taken had the desired result and the epidemic soon
ceased.
School Incidence of Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria During
the ten years 1896—1905.
47. There is no doubt that infectious diseases such as Scarlet
Fever and Diphtheria are communicated from child to child both
in school and on the way to and from school. During holidays
there is always a drop in the notification rate.
It has been noted, however, that the various schools show a
marked difference in their incidence rates, and the question has
arisen as to whether this is due to any preventable cause. In
order to see to what extent the incidence rate varies, the following
tables have been prepared for the two past quinquennial
periods, showing the incidence per 1,000 on the roll of Scarlet
Fever and Diphtheria on all provided schools of which the
average numbers have exceeded 500. They are arranged in the
order of the average incidence for each five yearly period, and the
dotted line separates those above the average from those below.
Only Plumstead schools are given for the first quinquennium,
as there are no figures available for Woolwich and Eltham
schools:—