From the logbooks of the school where I work:
"17th July 1889
In accordance with Dr Fussell’s (MH E Sussex) advice the school was reopened on Monday Jul 15th after being closed for about 8 ½ weeks for an Epidemic of Diphtheria imported by the best of our belief, by children from Wivelsfield Parish. Over 100 cases – probably 150, have occurred with 5 deaths. Happily the attack was not of a malignant kind but even quite mild attacks have been followed by very serious loss of speech & sight. We are still obliged to exclude several children and shall be compelled to do so for two or three weeks to come. The average attendances in consequence very seriously reduced and as this causes in addition to the loss practically of the first 3 months of our School year, the welfare of the school must be seriously hampered for some time to come. RE Wyatt, Manager"
In the logbooks 1920-1954, the first mention of diphtheria is in 1935 when it is noted that several children had been inoculated and were having a couple of days off afterwards. From 1937 the local GP was coming into school regularly to give injections.
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