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58
A Conference was held at the Local Government Board in
March to which the Metropolitan Medical Officers of Health were
invited to meet the Board's Medical Officers to discuss the preventive
measures which might be taken in dealing with measles. The
President of the Local Government Board was present and took
an active part in the discussion. The question of the practicability
of carrying out a system of notification was discussed, there
being, as was to be expected, considerable difference of opinion,
having regard to the clinical features of the disease, as to its usefulness
or expediency. It was generally felt, however, that unless
at the same time facilities were provided for the removal and
isolation of the patients, any system of notification of measles was
of little value. Other matters discussed at the Conference were, the
distribution of printed leaflets or cards giving advice as to the
nature of the disease and the precautionary measures to be taken
to prevent its spread ; disinfection, domiciliary visits, &c. There
was generally speaking agreement as to the value of these measures.
Considerable unanimity prevailed as to the importance of public
Elementary Schools as foci from whence the disease is spread and
the necessity for the exclusion of children under 5 years of age as
suggested in the Board of Education Consultative Committee's
Report. The President promised to give full consideration to the
views of the Conference .
The Board subsequently issued a Memorandum to Metropolitan
local authorities.
Measles in London.
The Order provides that such non-pauper cases shall be received into
hospitals of the Board of Management only when there is room available
beyond the requirements of pauper cases of measles ; and, subject to the
exceptional cases provided for in Article 11 of the Order, non-pauper cases
may only be admitted upon the recommendation of the Medical Officer of
Health of the locality in which the patient is residing, and the recommendation
must be accompanied by such information respecting the circumstances
of the case as the Board of Management require.
It will be seen from the terms of the Memorandum that
the Conference has been followed by satisfactory results. The
facilities for removal to the hospital of the Metropolitan Asylums
Board were availed of in Battersea in appropriate cases.
Fortunately owing to the precautionary measures already taken
by the Council the course of the outbreak had been checked and
the need for any extended hospital accommodation for Battersea
cases was therefore unnecessary.
Measles is essentially a preventable disease and it is to be
regretted that it is only when formidable epidemics of the disease
arise that its deadly nature is appreciated by the public. It is in
my opinion desirable that in the poorer districts of the Borough
there should be some more satisfactory system of notification