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36
Classes.
A.
B.
0.
D.
E.
F.
G&H.
Ages of children 5-6 4-5 5-0 6-7 3-4 5-6 6-7
Roll 70 68 67 74 42 39 91
Number of cases 32 32 42 10 11 13 28
Date of first case 19.12.05 15.12.05 21.12.05 21.12.05 19.12.05 21.12.05
Date of last case During Christmas _ Holiday 8.1.06 Holiday 10.1.06
Number known as previously having
measles 7 37 20 35 10 11 20
Number escaped 37 6 16 16 17 6 39
These two schools, investigated after the outbreak, serve also to show the difficulty of then
getting definite information.
Measles Enquiry in "Woolwich.—Measles was less prevalent in Woolwich than in the
previous year. Small outbreaks occurred which it is important to record, as they are of considerable
interest and demonstrate the value of knowing the measles history of the children.
If the Suggestions of the new Education Bill become law, opportunity will be given for acquiring
this information from the parents on a child's admission to school.
In the last report on the Woolwich enquiry it was shown that amongst non-closing schools—
in Burrage-grove especially, and in Union-street—the records demonstrated that although measles had
appeared, it had not extended, and an excess of children were left unprotected. At Bloomfield-road
measles had not appeared in 1904-5. Here there was gathered another accumulation of unprotected
children. Again, at Bostall-lane the records contained a very large number of children who had been
saved from contracting measles during the year by repeated early closing of classes, and at Vicarageroad
in the Babies class closure had been successful in postponing attacks. In these five schools the
chief trouble arose in this inter-epidemic year. Such records forewarn the school doctor, so that he is
also fore-armed.
At Burrage-grove (Woolwich), where in class F, for instance, 38 out of 66 children were unprotected,
measles came in May and rapidly spread in the manner stated last year. In May 13 cases
occurred in this department, and 60 in June.
At Union-street, (Woolwich) where 33 babies escaped in the previous year, measles appeared in
December, and 30 cases occurred. Bloomfield-road had a comparatively extensive outbreak in May.
At Bostall-lane (Woolwich), with its numerous unprotected classes, measles continued to break
out and be checked by closure month by month. At length an outbreak has appeared unchecked by
closure, and will be detailed in a future report. It also constitutes the first outbreak in the district
amongst children above the infant department.
At Vicarage-road (Woolwich), in June 14 children and in the following January 12 children
suffered amongst those reported last year to have escaped owing to successful closure.
Closure or exclusions also took place in Conway-road, Earl-street, Purrett-road, The Slade, Timbercroft-road
and The Gordon. In some instances the exclusion of children who had not previously
had the disease was alone necessary. This power of discrimination is a valuable result of knowing the
measles distribution in a school.
At Timbercroft-road (Woolwich), where practically all the unprotected children in 1904-5 took
measles, closure of a class took place in November. It was afterwards reported, however, that the complaint
had been wrongly diagnosed in the child on whose account the closure had been asked for.
It was suggested in last year's report that a warning to parents of unprotected children might
be useful in any classes where measles has appeared, that they might be on their guard, and might also be
impressed with the danger of the disease and its early infectivity. Cards have therefore been prepared
for distribution and are now in use.

As a case of measles has occurred among the
scholars in the class which your child attends,, it is
possible that may have contracted the disease.
As it requires about twelve days for measles to develop
after infection, you are requested to pay particular
regard to the state of your child's health during the
NEXT THREE WEEKS, and upon the slightest
sign of illness to abstain from sending to
school.
Date __
Signature.
NOTE.
Measles may be a very serious illness in young
children, and many die from it. The early symptoms
are those of a cold, which may be at first slight,
there is generally running at the eyes and nose, sneezing
anti possibly cough. Many children lose their lives
because parents allow them to go out of the house,
thinking that the indisposition is only a slight cold,
when it is really measles.