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1896]
54
Soon after sending my letter to the Teachers I called on the Head Teacher of the
Gifford Street Board School, as I had become aware that deaths from Measles had occurred
in Beaconsfiold Buildings, from which many children attended the School, and arranged
with him, as suggested by the memorandum of the Local Government Board, that he should let
me know of any cases of the disease which came to his knowlege.
I have now to inform you, whether in consequence of the Board's letter to him or not it is
not for me to say, that no case of Measles has been reported to me by him or, indeed, by any other
Teacher.
So far as I am concerned I have to say that I have only complied with the memorandum
of the Local Government Board, dated July, 1894, which lays down that—
"The attention of School Attendance Officers and of Schoolmasters should also he
drawn to the following considerations. Frequently they themselves will obtain the earliest
information of the occurrence of infectious diseases among scholars, and it is most desirable
that such Offiecr or Master should without delay communicate the facts to the Medical
Officer of Health. Absence of any child from school on the plea that it is suffering under
one of the before-mentioned diseases, and absence of several children of one family from
school at the same time, no matter what name be given to the complaint that keep6 them
at home, should be reported to the Health Officer. In practice it has been found that this
notification of absentees has materially aided the local Health Officer in taking measures
for the suppression of infectious disease, to the advantage alike of the district and of the
school. Furthermore, Schoolmasters may properly be asked to take note, especially when
an epidemic threatens or is present of symptoms occurring in any of their scholars that
may indicate the commencement of disease, febrile in nature. Besides heat of skin, such
symptoms are shivering, headache, and languor, especially if commencing suddenly,
vomiting, rashes on the skin, and sore throat. When Scarlet Fever or Diphtheria is about,
every trace of sore throat should be looked upon as suspicious. In any case where such
symptoms are observed, the safest course will be to exclude the child from School until
assurance can be had that it may attend school without harm to itself or danger to other
scholars."
This is very explicit, and casts a very serious responsibility on the School Board if
they should interfere with a Medical Officer of Health in the discharge of his duty. I
cannot understand who could have so ill advised the School Board in this matter, but that
they have been ill advised is very apparent.
I have to point out that in the Local Government Board's Memorandum the School
Board itself is never mentioned, but only the School Managers, attendance officers and
teachers.
In conclusion I desire to express my regret that the School Board for London should
have taken action to prevent this authority obtaining information to which they are clearly
entitled, and which was very essential for the prevention of an cpidemic such as that which
recently prevailed in Clerkenwell and to a lesser extent in St. Pancras, and where so far as
I can learn no action whatsoever had been taken by the Board.
My experience of Measles has been very great, probably greater than any other
Medical Officer of Health in England, and I have no hesitation in saying that the course