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130
DIPHTHERIA.
For 1911 there was a very marked increase in the prevalence
of this disease. 82 cases occurred in children
attending school, as compared with 30 in 1910. On
examining the table on the opposite page it will be seen that
the cases have been fairly evenly distributed. In September
there was an outbreak of 6 cases in connection with Cleveland
Road School, most of them from one class. The type
of disease was severe. There were about 60 children in this
class, so a swab was taken of every child, and 3 gave a
positive result. There was no apparent symptom with any
of them, and no discharge of any sort. These were excluded
from school until a negative swabbing was obtained. There
were no further cases in that class. At the end of the year,
in a private school, there was also a small outbreak. Some
70 children were in attendance at this school. All were
examined individually and swabs taken of 4 presenting suspicious
symptoms. Three of these gave positive results, and
the children were excluded. No other case occurred at that
school.
There is a tendency for Diphtheria and Scarlet Fever to
break out concurrently. In December, it will be seen, there
were 9 cases of Diphtheria at South Park School and also
6 of Scarlet Fever. Both diseases, too, affected Downshall
more than any other school during 1911. In several instances
where children presented suspicious-looking throats
on their examination at the office in the morning, swabs were
taken with positive results. One case resulted in finding two
other children at home with bad throats, who also gave
positive results. The whole three were removed to the
Isolation Hospital.