View report page

13
hended of the spread of the disease through the agency of
Public Elementary Schools.
"It is, I believe, a rule of the School Board for London
that children are not to be allowed to attend Board Schools
from any house where Scarlet Fever exists, even though there
be no case of the disease in the family of which the children are
members.
"The Board, moreover, have, at my suggestion, instructed
the 'Visitors' to report to the several Medical Officers of
Health any cases of infectious disease in children that may
come to their knowledge in the discharge of their official duties.
The Visitors acting in this Parish have been provided with a
form for this purpose.
"Having regard to the importance of early discovery of
cases of Scarlet Fever, my Vestry have now authorized me to
prepare a similar form for the use of Masters and Mistresses of
all Public Elementary Schools.
"I enclose copies of this form, and I shall feel particularly
obliged if you will kindly adopt it, and favor me thereon with
immediate information of any cases of Scarlet Fever, &c., that
may come to your knowledge.
"While inviting your attention to the note at the foot of
the form, I beg to request that you will report the absence
of children from school, if due to illness, only when there is some
reasonable ground for suspicion that the illness is of an infectious
character, as with the limited staff at my disposal, it
would be impossible to enquire into other cases.
"In conclusion, I may remind you that the infective period
of Scarlet Fever does not terminate until the "peeling" of the
skin is done: and that it is not safe to allow children to
return to school until their infected clothing, as well as the
infected rooms and their contents, have been thoroughly
disinfected."
Inquests were held in several cases of children who had died without
having received any medical attendance. It may charitably be supposed
that the parents failed to recognize the seriousness of the illness,