View report page

132
SCARLET FEVER.
The total number of cases of this disease in the schools
has been slightly greater than in 1911. There was a troublesome
series of cases in Goodmayes Junior Mixed, mostly
occurring in one class-room. Every child attending this class
was examined, but no satisfactory cause could be discovered.
The room was thoroughly disinfected and all articles likely
to contain infection were destroyed. The head teacher took
great personal interest in the matter, and everything was
done to avoid overlooking any intermediate cause of infection.
Some more cases occurred, however; another inspection
was made, but nothing definite discovered. The room
was again disinfected and its use discontinued for a time,
when the trouble come to an end. Great care is taken to
exclude any children from school with a sore throat, or who
exhibit any suspicious symptoms, but mild cases are frequently
discovered, either in the course of medical inspection
or from the examination made when they attend at the Public
Health Offices for other reasons. So long as mild cases
escape observation, it is obvious that there is continual
danger of infection to the other children. The Council took
into consideration the question of appointing another nurse
to watch these cases, but decided not to take further action
in the matter, at any rate at present.