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67
school. During May and June an outbreak of the disease
occurred amongst the children attending Valentines School.
This school serves a small village with a scattered surround!ng
population mostly composed of farm labourers and their
families. Just as in other parts of Ilford, the disease was
mild in type. Of the children attending Valentines School
a large proportion, compared with the total population,
was taken ill with the disease, and the outbreak
assumed the character of an epidemic. No evidence was
obtained that the disease was spread by school contact. I
did not accordingly advise closure of the school. Advantage,
however, was taken of the Whitsuntide holidays to
disinfect the school.
8 cases were diagnosed and reported by the School
Medical Staff.
DIPHTHERIA.
During the year the schools were fairly free of this
disease. 68 cases were reported, and nearly one-third of
these arose in children attending Goodmayes School. The
cases at Goodmayes School were carefully investigated bybacteriological
methods. Several children attending the
school were found to be suffering from slight nasal discharge,
which on investigation proved to be diphtheritic in
nature. This outbreak has firmly impressed on me the
importance of searching for " carriers " of the disease in an
infected school. By promptly excluding from school suspected
children and not allowing them to return until
baoteriologically free from the disease, I believe that a
serious epidemic was checked.
7 cases of Diphtheria were diagnosed and notified by
the School Medical Staff.