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157 [1910
its course. About this time the Borough of Jarrow and Tyne Dock applied
for and obtained from Parliament power to make the notification of measles
compulsory. Notwithstanding this law, however, and although the earlier cases
were isolated in hospital, the disease, when it made its appearance at these
places, was as unmanageable as before notification ; and, indeed, it was impossible
to deal with the notifications when they arrived. It was thought that
if the first cases could be got at and isolated, the measles would not spread,
but the hope was delusive, as its infectivity starts almost as soon as the
patient has been infected, and before it has been recognised. It is this
feature of the disease which makes it so difficult to deal with, and also makes
Medical Officers of Health and particularly Medical Officers of Schools so loth
to close their schools or even classrooms.
"In the present epidemic the Medical Officer of the London County Council
(Education) and myself are keeping the closest watch on the schools, and the
joint recommendatons of the Local Government Board and the Board of
Education are being carried out.
"Apart from closing the schools, I do not know what else can be done,
and with my experience of this disease I would not recommend such a course.
The results are problematic, the inconvenience certain, for closure would not
merely throw out of gear all school work, but it would also cause very great
inconvenience, if not loss of money to the parents of the children attending
school, especially of those in the infant classes, for they would in many
instances be compelled to give up their employment to look after the children
at home, although I hold strongly that these very young children should not be
sent to school.
"There is one matter, however, which needs improvement, namely, the
earlier notification to the Medical Officer of Health of the cases occurring
among scholars. The delay is not always, I believe, due to any neglect on
the part of the Head Teachers, but of the Attendance Officers, who I believe do
not report them early enough. At one time teachers used to send scholars to
inquire the cause of the absence of other scholars, but this practice has rightly
been put a stop to. The teachers have now to depend solely on the information
supplied to them by the Attendance Officers, who, owing to the large
number of absentees, and as well as to other matters which require their
attention, are not able to report as quickly as is necessary when dealing with
Measles. I am afraid, judging by the batch of notifications I often receive at
one time from the teachers, that the Attendance Officers do not report
the cases each day as they come across them, but wait until they have a
number and then report all of them at one time.*
* The Medical Officer of Health understands that at this time they were reported only once a
week.