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children from different parts of the District, who would not otherwise
meet, are brought into contact.
I am strongly of opinion that whenever an outbreak of Diphtheria
occurs amongst scholars attending any particular school, that school
should be closed.
Children are compelled to attend school, and the Boards
concerned are responsible for their safety; and if their closure is the
means of preventing even one case, the Act would be justified.
Sir R. Thome states: "That compulsory school attendance has,
in regard to this disease, prevented the fall in the death rate that has
occurred in most infectious diseases."
This opinion is becoming more accepted day by day. We have
found that while the schools were closed the number of cases declined
to a minimum.
Measures taken by your Sanitary Officers to prevent the
spread of the Disease.
In every recognised case we have enforced isolation of the patient
in hospital; subsequent disinfection of premises and exclusion from
school attendance of children from infected houses.
Attention has been paid to the sanitary condition of infected
houses, and where necessary, defects have been remedied.
The public schools have been inspected, and the North Road
Schools have been thoroughly cleansed with disinfectants and
fumigated; and at the Mixed Schools the walls were distempered and
painted. During their closure considerable alterations in the sanitary
arrangements were carried out.
The public water supply has been analysed and enquiries made
as to the milk supply of infected houses.
At the request of the Council 1 drew up the following handbill
which was distributed from house to house in November.
" The Inhabitants are earnestly invited in consequence of the
continuance of diphtheria cases in this District to carefully note any
illness in the occupants in their respective houses, especially sore
throats, and at once call in their own Doctor or the Medical Officer of
Health for the District so as to aid in suppressing this disease as
speedily as possible.
Remarks on Diphtheria by the Medical Officer of Health.
Diphtheria most often occurs in Children between the ages of 2
and 12 years, and the liability to it decreases with every year of
advancing age.
Any person suffering from the disease—however mildly—may
convey it to every one he cornea in contact with.