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130
organism was in no case to be found in the available sputum.
This is the usual thing in children, and makes the disease
most difficult to diagnose. Phthisis may be said to be a rare
disease in childhood.
The treatment of this disease has a bright outlook before
it. Owing to the provision of sanatoria and dispensaries
under the National Insurance Act, and the appointment of
Tuberculosis Officers, there will be no difficulty in obtaining
treatment for these cases. Most school children are dependants
on insured persons, and will probably be eligible for
treatment under the new insurance regulations.
INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
On examining the table on the opposite page it will be
seen that the total amount of infectious disease in the schools
during 1912 has been slightly less than in 1911. The great
decline in Measles has been made up by the increase in
Mumps and Whooping Cough. Mumps was very prevalent
at one time in South Park, Cleveland Road, Christchurch
Road, Uphall and Newbury Park schools, Whooping Cough
at Downshall, Christchurch Road and Loxford schools. An
outbreak of Measles occurred at Loxford, Cleveland Road
and Downshall schools at the end of the year. Apart from
this the schools had been very free from Measles during the
greater part of the year. No schools have been closed for
epidemic reasons, but Loxford Junior Mixed was closed by
the Authority for a few days in December on financial
grounds, arising out of the bad attendance from Measles and
other causes. The figures for Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria
have fallen. There having been only 78 cases of the latter
disease during 1912 is a satisfactory feature. The numbers
for Ringworm are also down, and it is to be hoped that this
is the beginning of more satisfactory figures in the future as
the result of the efforts the Education Authority have made
and are making to eliminate this disease from the schools.