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85
Yorkshire School, King Edward Street.— A declining epidemic
of Measles was discovered at this School (20 per cent. of the
Scholars absent), but no action was taken in regard to closing.
The class-rooms were disinfected, with the result that the
epidemic rapidly declined.
Stockwell Orphanage.—On account of a small outbreak of
Measles at these Schools, the class-rooms were disinfected, but
no action taken in regard to closing.
Licensed Victuallers' School.—Disinfection was carried out at
these Schools on account of an outbreak of Measles,, but no
action was necessary in regard to closing, as the number of cases
was never sufficient to affect the average attendance.
It will be noted that, although in several instances during
1902 it was necessary to disinfect Schools, in no case was it
thought advisable to close a School on account of Measles.
Whooping Cough.
Whooping Cough is also a serious disease, especially to young
children. Of the 118 deaths registered in Lambeth Borough
during 1902 from this disease, 115 occurred in children under 5
years of age. It is, therefore, a disease of childhood, and its
prevention ought to be systematically attempted, chiefly in the
way of disinfection of Whooping Cough-infected houses, exclusion
of children (both infected and from infected houses), and
the educating of parents up to the dangerous nature of the
disease and the importance of careful nursing of the patients
when suffering from this complaint. Unfortunately, Whooping
Cough, like Measles, is regarded as a harmless complaint of
childhood, and the ignorance displayed, and the apathy shown,
in regard to this disease are well known to all who visit amongst
the poorer classes.
During 1902, in the Borough of Lambeth, disinfection has
been carried out in connection with 110 Whooping Coughinfected
houses, as compared with 72 during 1901.