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31
Bacillary Dysentery (Sonne).
The year was an unfortunate one in regard to this infection,
there being 138 known cases at schools out of a total of 230 notified
or known in the Borough amongst all ages.
The school first affected was Greenleaf Primary in February.
The usual routine was followed, parents and doctors being informed
and the appropriate "drill" followed at school.
The organism was found to be sensitive to Chloromycetin and
streptomycin, but resistant to the sulphonamides. There were only
thirteen cases out of 501 on roll and the school was cleared by the
24th March.
In 1954 there had been forty-two cases at this school and
although in the meantime the sanitary accommodation had been
reconditioned, the money allowed had apparently become exhausted
before the washing accommodation could be renovated. This was
always inadequate and it was situated in the main school building,
well away from the renovated water closet block.
During April and May there were at all ages only seven cases
notified in the Borough, but in June the first cases were notified
from Mark House Infants School, and by the end of the summer
term no fewer than fifty-three cases had been found out of 117
children on roll in spite of the strictest precautions and the utmost
co-operation from the parents, headmistress and her staff. Here
again the sanitary accommodation was inadequate and outmoded
and too far separated from the washing accommodation in the
main block. For this reason bowls of benzalkonium chloride were
placed outside the water closets for children to rinse their hands in
before proceeding to the main block to wash. It is of interest that
some children were demanding the same facilities at home and
arrangements were made to supply the solution through the school
at cost price. This is an interesting example of health education in
the home through the schools.
The school was declared free from infection by the end of the
summer term, but one further case occurred in December.
Soon after the outbreak came to light at the Mark House
School, cases were notified from the nearby Nursery School, but
this outbreak was cleared quite quickly with a total of ten cases in
all.
Also in July eleven cases were notified from the Edinburgh
Junior Mixed School and in addition there were sixteen other
cases from eight different schools. Of the eighty-nine cases at schools
up to the end of the summer term, seventy-three were at six schools
situated in the St. James' Street Ward. The total in the Borough in
the first half year was 150.
No case was notified or became notified during August or
September and it was hoped that the Borough was at last clear of
infection.