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32
With reference to the child discovered at school who was
commencing the "peeling" stage, she was at once removed to
the Isolation Hospital. She had been absent from school for a
fortnight and she and her brother had returned to school the
previous day. Upon visiting the home, in Lower Mortlake
Road, the Medical Officer ascertained that the eldest sister
had an attack of "influenza" about five weeks previously,
the brother about one week after this and the third child (the
one referred to above) a week after the brother.
Upon examining the eldest girl there was undoubted
evidence of "peeling" on the body, arms and legs, but not on
the hands, and there was slight evidence of "peeling" on the
boy. Prom the history of the cases there is no doubt they had
all three really been attacked with mild scarlet fever. The
mother stated that no doctor had been called in because in
each instance the child was not very ill and then only for a day
or so and that she had not the slightest suspicion it was anything
serious. As some years ago she lost one child from severe
scarlet fever there is no reason to doubt her statement.
As these were the only two children at home, instructions
were given that the children should be isolated in one bedroom
and that none of the inmates should associate with other
people until the cases were declared free from infection. Upon
making a surprise visit to the house a few days afterwards the
Medical Officer discovered the children downstairs and the
mother in a neighbour's house. The mother stated that owing
to her husband being out of work she could not afford to keep
two fires going. These children are now convalescent and the
house has been disinfected. The children will not attend
school again until after Xmas.
From the period of closing the schools (November 24th),
the following numbers of scholars were notified as suffering