View report page

58
In the autumn, Scarlet Fever was prevalent to some
slight extent throughout the district, and particularlyaffected
the West Green Ward. Frequent examinations
were made by your Medical Officer for signs of recent
disease amongst the children; all cases of doubtful nature
away from school were visited by the School Nurses, and a
daily inspection of hands was made by the teachers throughout
the departments of the school chiefly affected. These
inspections resulted in bringing to light 3 cases of "missed"
Scarlet Fever, i.e., cases in which the disease had been so
mild that its true nature had not been recognised ; one boy,
indeed, had only been away from school two days with a mild
sore throat. The cases were, for the greater part, of such a
mild nature that 3 or 4 children were actually at school when
the rash began to appear. Indeed, the very mildness of the
epidemic was a factor which made it all the more difficult to
combat, and I think it probable that some of the cases were
due to those others which were not recognised until peeling of
the skin of the hands shewed itself. Another feature of the
outbreak was the lateness at which "peeling" took place;
in several of the cases, the "missed" ones included, it did
not take place until the third or fourth week after the initial
sore throat.
Disinfection of the school premises was thoroughly carried
out by the Public Health Department, all modelling clay was
thrown away, and the spread of infection stopped by all
possible means.
CHICKEN POX.
Chicken Pox was prevalent in many infants' schools in
the Autumn. It was of a very mild nature, and checking