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the slightest deviation from normal. In no case was there
clinical evidence of diphtheria. The bacteriological examination
of the swabs gave a positive result in four instances. The
four scholars from whom these swabs were taken were at once
isolated.
Between October 29th and November 7th, there were
seven other notifications of children attending the same
school. The throats of all the children in one classroom were
examined, and four swabs taken, but all gave a negative
result. So far as could be discovered all the cases arose from
personal contact, and not from any insanitary conditions at
the school or dwellings.
The first case discovered at the School (October, 1913),
had been absent for a week, but had not been under medical
treatment. The School Medical Officer took a swab and sent
the boy home again. The bacteriological result was positive.
Although apparently well the boy remained a " carrier" for
some time. As swabs taken from time to time gave a positive
result, the boy was removed to Mogden Hospital, where he
remained until there was no longer any evidence of infection
(February 23rd, 1914).
Scarlet Fever.
Ninety cases of this disease were notified, as compared
with 53 for the previous year. The attack rate was 2.6 per
thousand of the population. Sixty-seven cases were removed
to Mogden Hospital, being 74 per cent. of the cases notified.
All the cases were of a mild nature and no deaths occurred
from this disease.
Seventy-five of the cases occurred in patients below 15years
of age. Fifty-six of the cases were notified from the
North and East Wards. The following particulars concerning
some of the cases are of interest:—
On September 22nd, Q.S., aged 5 (case No. 83), was
brought to the Health Department by the mother. The child
was in the " peeling" stage of the disease. The mother stated
the child had suffered from a " cold " two weeks earlier, and.