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35
but a history of sore throats made it probable that they had
had a slight attack of this disease
44 In 36 cases infection was attributed to friends and
neighbours, in 15 cases to school attendance, in 3 to travelling,
and in 8 to visiting hospitals The number of mild cases
undetected or concealed, which go about and attend school, is
no doubt very large, and mainly accounts for the spread of
infection There were, however, no special school outbreaks
last year
45 The Annual Report for 1905 contained a special report
on a statistical investigation into school incidence of scarlet
fever and diphtheria during the ten years 1896-1905
46 Absence on account of illness is not now, as it was till
recently, a barrier to obtaining a school medal The mere
records of school attendance are, however, still the basis of
school grants, and, consequently, it is the main object of
teachers to keep up the attendance This leads to children
being encouraged to go to school at an age when they are
unfit to leave home, and when they are more liable to succumb
to infectious disease, It also, indirectly, leads to children
attending school in an infectious state
47 Statistics were given in my last report as to the date
of calling in medical attendance in scarlet fever Some
remarks were made in the same report as to the recent high
prevalence and comparatively low death-rates of scarlet fever
and diphtheria in Woolwich
Diphtheria
48 240 cases of Diphtheria were notified (excluding 28
cases of mistaken diagnosis), compared with 387, 275, and 362
c 2