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102
DIPHTHERIA.
The year 1913 was not characterised by any features of
importance with regard to this disease. The type prevailing
was only a mild one. Indeed, if it were not for the diagnosis
of many mild cases by bacteriological examination the number
of cases notified would be sensibly diminished. No
school was affected more than another, with the exception
of Barkingside School. In the last three months of the year
13 cases in children at Barkingside were notified. Most of
the cases were extremely mild, several, however, being of
great severity.
Four cases of Diphtheria were diagnosed and notified by
the School Medical Officer.
GERMAN MEASLES.
Only seven cases of this disease were reported during
the year 1913.
MEASLES.
An epidemic of this disease commenced in the autumn
of 1912, and continued through the winter of 1912-1913,
subsiding in the spring. Almost every school was affected,
with the exception of Cleveland Road School, in which, for
some inexplicable reason, only 19 cases occurred. Barkingside
School, serving a scattered area some distance from
Ilford proper, also escaped with a small number of cases.
The control of this disease is one of the most difficult
matters with which the School Medical Officer has to deal.
The ideal method of dealing with this disease would be by
notification of the disease, followed by removal to an isolation
hospital wherever home isolation was insufficient. This
is not practicable at present owing to the expense involved.
With the question of school-closure for this disease the