View report page

24
to make an order to include measles in the list of infectious
diseases to which Section 55 of the Public Health Act, 1891,
applies. In 1898 the London Sanitary Authorities were requested
by the Council to express an opinion as to the desirability
of this step, but so much opposition was shown by the Vestries,
on the ground of the expense entailed, that no further action was
taken at that time by the Council.
In 1900 the question was revived, and the newly-elected
Councils of the Metropolitan Boroughs were consulted; but the
proposal was now varied, inasmuch as it was intimated that it
was not now the intention of the London County Council to
require notification either by head of family or medical attendant,
thereby saving the expense of notification fees—an undoubtedly
large item.
The view expressed by the Public Health Committee of this
Council was to the effect that they saw no objection to the
proposal; and this was the general opinion, though, as a matter
of fact, none of the Metropolitan Sanitary Authorities were
strongly in favour of the proposal. However, as no active opposition
was manifested, the emasculated order was made by the
County Council, in accordance with the requirements of Section
56 of the Public Health (London) Act of 1891. The sections
now in force with respect to measles are 62, 63, 64, 65, 68, 69, 70,
72, 73, 74. These sections relate almost entirely to disinfection
and the prevention of the spread of infection. They already
apply to the diseases which are notifiable. It is certainly a step
in the right direction to make them applicable to an intensely
infectious disease such as measles undoubtedly is; but the
essential factor for enabling sanitary authorities to check the
spread of infection is early and accurate information as to the
locality and nature of the disease to be dealt with. Unfortunately
no such information is forthcoming with respect to measles; our
only sources of information are the elementary school teachers,
who report such cases as come to their knowledge on hearsay
evidence (very often incorrect), and we hear of fatal cases from