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68
The schools chiefly affected were the Infants' Departments
of the New Beckton and Fourth Avenue Schools, and
the former was closed for a period of 21 days in consequence
of this disease.
The circumstances in this case indicated that benefit
might be expected from school closure, the children attending
this school came from several districts, such as Cyprus,
Savage Gardens, Roman Road, etc., and, therefore, would not
intercommunicate to any extent except for school attendance.
In the neighbourhood of Fourth Avenue, the children, if
not at school, would, without doubt, in most cases spend their
time together at play, therefore little or no benefit could be
expected in this instance from school closure, and exclusion
of affected children had to be depended on, consequently
the outbreak here was of rather longer duration.

A printed form giving information concerning the disease,
and the precautions to be adopted, was sent to the parents in
all these cases.
A conference was called in March, by the Essex Education
Committee, to consider the question of Infectious
Disease in Public Elementary Schools. Most of the Medical
Officers of Health in the County attended, and, as a result, a
Memorandum on the subject was prepared.