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41
on Church Manorway, Eglinton Road and Union Street. In the
case of the two latter, certain classes were specially affected. A
large number of cases occurred about the same time, and there is
no doubt that the school was a means of spreading the infection.
As soon as there was any evidence of school infection,
the Medical Officer (Education) of the London County Council
was informed, the affected classes examined bacteriologically, and
those found to be carriers of the Diphtheria bacillus were excluded.
At Eglinton Road School cases continued to occur in
spite of these steps; and after a further examination of the
children, the School was temporarily closed. This had the
desired effect. At Union Street School examination and exclusion
of infected children were found sufficient to stop the recurrence
of cases.
60. Of the larger schools those least affected were Mulgrave
Place, Ancona Road, Burrage Grove and Bostal Lane.
The incidence of Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria in the large
schools during the past years has been fully described in paragraphs
49, 50 and 51.
61. Bacteriological Diagnosis.—712 swabs were sent to the
Lister Institute to be examined for the presence of diphtheria
bacillus. In 102 the true Klebs Loffler bacillus was found ; in
172 Hoffman's bacillus was found; and 438 were found free from
either the Klebs Loffler or Hoffman's bacillus.
Of the 712 swabs examined, 412 were taken by Dr. A. E. Thomas
(my assistant) or by myself. Of these, 46 contained the true Klebs
Loffler bacillus and 103 Hoffman's bacillus.
Special notes were kept as to 78 contacts examined and swabbed
by myself; most of these were seen about 10 days after notifies
tion of the primary case, for the purpose of giving certificates
to enable pupils to return to school. (N.B.—No children were
allowed to resume school from infected houses until they were