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192
1911]
NON-NOTIFIABLE DISEASES AMONG CHILDREN ATTENDING
THE PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
There were 4,876 cases of Measles, Chicken Pox, Whooping Cough, and
other diseases of an infectious character, although not notifiable under the
Public Health (London) Act, reported to the Public Health Department by
the teachers of the several public elementary schools. This is a considerable
decrease on the return for 1910, when 6,077 cases were notified. On the other
hand, it is an increase of 994 on the average of the ten years 1901-1910. These
are large figures, but it is to be noted that they are not diseases which
materially interfere with school life, because they are mainly confined to little
children in attendance at the infant classes, to which they are sent more to be
out of the way of their mothers than for any education they may receive. The
Medical Officer of Health has always felt, in dealing with these cases, th;it it
was little or no injury to the children or the schools to exclude these scholars
or to close their class rooms when the state of infection required it.
Measles.—During 1910 there had been a serious outbreak of Measles
among the younger scholars, when 2,194 cases were notified, and it is
satisfactory to find that in 1911 the number had fallen to 1698. This figure is,
however, 163 above the average of the cases that have been notified since 1901.
It must be recollected that in the early years of the decennium as much
care was not taken by the teachers to notify the disease as during the last
three or four years.
Chicken Pox.—Here again there has been a considerable decrease on
the return of 1910, as only 585 cases were notified, as contrasted with 985 in
that year.
Whooping Cough.—The cases fell from 892 in 1910 to 533 last year.