The MEDICAL OFFICER reported as follows, under date of July 6th.

Hartlip. - I am sorry to inform the council that a sudden outbreak of diphtheria has appeared in this locality, and to-day I have made an inspection with Mr Grant (the Inspector of Nuisances). The first notification I received was on Sunday the 5th instant, and the same post brought a letter from the Matron of the hospital informing me of the death of the child. Up to this date nine cases (including one at Chesley, Newington, and who attended Hartlip School) have been reported and removed to the isolation hospital. I was informed in more than one quarter that foul smells had been noticed in one particular class-room in the school, and that all, or most of those affected, had studied in this room. Here a water tank exists under the floor, and the smell from the water when drawn being foul and offensive in the extreme.

It may be that sewer gas finds it way through an overflow pipe, in which case the cause of the outbreak is apparent, but, as the builder will take some time in opening this out, this will be reported upon at the next meeting of the council. I understand there is much association in the fruit grounds with the Rainham folks, and probably Gillingham also, and as diphtheria has been frequent in these two places for some time past it may have been communicated in this way. So-called “sore throat” (which is probably diphtheria in a sub-acute form) has been noticeable in this parish for some weeks and attendance at the school could spread the mischief. I have recommended the schools to be closed indefinitely which will probably be until after hopping.

Mr. GRANT said that since this report was written other cases had been taken to the hospital. There were at present twelve cases there, and ten out of the twelve patients came from Hartlip.

Mr GRANT said that the Medical Officer and himself were of the opinion that the outbreak might have started with one case and been communicated to other places. He had heard of several cases of sore throat at Chesley in which no doctor had been called in. He had made arrangements to have the tank under the school thoroughly investigated and cleaned out. It had not been cleansed for sixteen years, not, in fact, since the school was built. The tank was originally in the open, but the class-room was added and built over it. The supply from the tank was the only water supply at the school. It was quite possible that there was an overflow pipe connecting with a drain, which caused the tank to fill with foul gas. The matter was now being investigated, the school having been closed on Friday. All steps that were possible to prevent the spread of the disease had been taken, the patients being removed to the hospital and the houses disinfected.