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8
mind to inspect the schools if a third case appeared. As
a matter of fact a third case had occurred that day, had
been diagnosed in the morning, and had been sent in the
ambulance in the afternoon to the Isolation Hospital, but
I had no knowledge of it as no notification had up to that
time been sent me. However, by the merest chance, at
12.30, on Tuesday the 19th, next day, I heard of this case,
still un-notified, and immediately arranged to inspect the
Infant School, and did so that afternoon to the number
of 180, and as a result found amongst them a little boy of
seven years, who was peeling profusely, both on feet and
legs. The other children were dismissed, and I removed
the boy myself to his home at Long Ditton, and there
obtained the following interesting information from his
mother:—
"Three weeks ago to-morrow, i.e. on October 30th
"(the first case you will remember was notified on
"October 25th), I noticed the boy to have a rash.
"I put him in bed and kept him there till the
"following Monday, November 4th, when I took
"him to a doctor because he seemed so out of sorts
"and had a gum-boil. I told the doctor of the
"rash, but nothing was said as to its nature, and
"I was not told to take any precautions. I was
"given some medicine. On the Monday after that,
"which would be November 11th, I sent him to
"school, but he was sent back by the mistress
"because his hands were peeling. I was to have
"received a note from her, but it did not come. I
"kept him at home for the remainder of the week
"and sent him to school for the second time on the
"following Monday, November 18th, and now to"day
you have brought him home. I had no idea
"at all that he had scarlet fever."