[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Snt,—Your correspondent " Enquirer
" has been unfortunate in his experience of Public Schools. I could mention one of the smaller schools of repute which is not visited at frequent intervals by " devastating epidemics " ; but, as I ant its head-master, there are obvious reasons fur withholding its name.
I have examined the records of this school for the thirteen terms since January, 1928, and find only one epidemic, influenza, which can be described as devastating. There are no fewer than seven terms of practically complete im- munity from illness of any kind. The number of eases of absence of more than one week's duration is about four hundred. As this period represents a total of forty thousand boy-weeks, it is easy to see the significance of these figures. On seven occasions there have been imported, at the beginning of term, infectious illnesses which might well have led to serious epidemics were it not for the unremitting vigilance which is exercised.
I believe your correSpondent is mistaken in his view that there are few schools where serious thought is devoted to the planning of the dietary of 'the growing boy.—I ern, Sir,
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