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16
The success of the foregoing procedure in controlling Smallpox
in schools is a sufficient reply to those critics who clamour for
School Closure.
Although an enormous amount of work is entailed for the
Attendance and Medical Departments, control during school time
is far more effective than during holidays.
The vaccinal findings at Gamuel Road School are summarised
below:—
Vaccinated. 76; Unvaccinated, 233: Total. 309 ; Vaccinated.
24%.
It is a significant fact that of all the 72 school children affected
with Smallpox during 1930 not a single one had been vaccinated.
The moral and the remedy for Smallpox is obvious.
Fortunately, the type of Smallpox was consistently mild and
no case caused undue anxiety during hospital treatment.

The very greatly increased incidence during 1930 is a matter of
grave concern and demands that consideration should be given to
the introduction of a scheme of immunisation which is the only
scientific means of preventing the disease.
One school—Selwyn Avenue Infants'—showed recurrent cases
during the latter part of the year when the following number of
cases were notified:—
July. August. September. October. November. December.
1—4 6 — 4
Repeated visits were paid to this school and every child in
attendance was examined at each visit and doubtful cases excluded
and/or swabbed. The infection coincided with a series of cases at a
Children's Home whose inmates attended this group of schools.
Several visits were paid to this Home.