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centres of population, in which there is now almost no danger of infection
being spread, as it is so frequently in London, by concealment
of cases or by the exposure of diseased children in public places'
schools, &c. How much need there is of similar legislation for London
was well shown by an incident that occurred at Gloucester Grove
East. In a dilapidated house in that street, since pulled down, there
lived in a single room six children with their parents. Five of the
children had scarlet fever, one after the other: the cases were mild,
no medical man had been called in, and not only did some of the
children go to a Board School, in Chelsea, while the disease was in
the family, but two of them returned to school while " peeling."
Towards the close of the year scarlet fever again became more
prevalent, and especially in the locality from which the National
Schools draw their pupils—the majority of the sufferers being of
school age. Many cases were removed to hospital, but we had reason
to regret the concealment of others which came to light only upon
recovery, when the services of the disinfecting officer were required, or
after registration of a death. Groups of cases moreover occurred,
due, as we believed, to association of children, in other schools, e.g.,
St. Philip and St. Barnabas, St. George, St. Mary's, Boltons, &c. For
the most part Board Schools were singularly free from the disease, the
fact being that the outbreaks were practically confined to the central
and southern parts of the parish where there were, or till lately had
been, no Board Schools. The Sanitary Inspectors did good service in
checking the spread of the malady by getting the sick removed to hospitals
; by preventing children going to school from infected houses; and
by keeping the teachers informed of the localities where disease existed.
Many of the teachers exhibited a hearty desire to co-operate with us,
and I, with your Vestry's sanction, prepared a form for their use, to
enable them to report, without delay, known cases of infectious illness
as well as the names of children absent from school under suspicious
circumstances.
The form was supplied to all Masters and Mistresses of Public
Elementary Schools, and was introduced to their notice in the following
terms:—
" You are probably aware that Scarlet Fever is now
epidemic in the Metropolis, and of the danger to be appre-