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cannot be isolated from the healthy. This objection can only be overcome
by sanitary teaching, and a great deal has been accomplished in
that way in the Hamlet. Still the science of disease prevention and
sanitation are less known and understood and much less practised in
the present day than in very ancient times, even before the Christian
era. Once the necessary machinery is organized, and an easily-worked
system is perfected, all objections both to sanitation and removal of
patients will rapidly disappear.
SCHOOL BOARD SCHOOLS.
Special vigilance on the part of visitors and other officials, in discovering
and reporting upon infectious cases among the children
attending the schools, or of illness in others at their houses, with a view
to prevent such children coming to school so long as danger of infection
existed, would prove of incalculable value in preventing the spread of
infectious diseases. The School Board authorities have recently
directed notice to be sent by their officials to the Medical Officer of
Health of their District of any such cases coming under their observation.
I believe there are twelve schools in the Hamlet under the control
of the London Board, with an aggregate of upwards of 13,000 children
on the rolls, affording the most fertile source and means for the diffusion
of infections. When we contemplate the aggregate number of children
in the whole of the Metropolitan Schools, penetrating as they must do
into every street, court, and almost every house, the wonder is that
these diseases are not even more prevalent and devastating than they
have been hitherto; in any case, the indisputable fact remains that
these public schools are the chief propagators of infectious diseases,
and therefore proportionate care and supervision should be stringently
exercised by those who are, or should be, responsible for the sanitary
condition of the schools and health of the children. It is matter for
surprise that the London School Board has not long initiated, in connexion
with its great educational work, a hygienic and sanitary
department, under efficient supervision; its cost would be speedily
recouped, and would be the truest economy to the taxpayers as well as
Name of Scliool. Average No.
of Pupils.
Settles-street, Stepney 1293
Bakor-street, Stepney 625
St. Philip's, New-street, Stepnoy 362
Essex-street, Stepnoy 1296
Garden-street, Stepney 866
Dempsoy-stroot, Mile End Old Town 1006
Portman-place, Globe-road 1376
Bon Jonson, Harford-street 2405
South-grove, Mile End 1244
Burdott-road, Mile End Old Town 411
St. Paul's-road, Bow-common-lane 1363
Woolmore-street, Poplar 941
Total 13188