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130
the Volume issued by the Board of Education, and although a
very voluminous document, only two pages were devoted to the
question of infection. The Report states "That there do not
appear to exist at present any figures which show for the country
generally the liability of children unprotected by previous attacks
to succumb to the attacks of different diseases at different ages."
This may be true of the "Country generally,'' but there were
ample figures available which distinctly provided a case for
inquiry in regard to Measles. The Report of the Consultative
Committee goes on to state "The Committee trust, however,
that they will be accurately representing the views of experts if
they say on the whole school attendance may unless proper precautions
are taken tend to increase the spreadi of the two most
prevalent diseases of childhood, namely, Measles and Whooping
Cough. ...."
The Consultative Committee conclude their Report by stating
that "The Committee do not recommend any change at present
in the lower age limit either of voluntary or compulsory attendance
at School," and recommending that the Board of Education
should appoint a body of experts to make a thorough and conclusive
inquiry into the question of the impurity of the air in
Public Elementary Schools and the best methods of heating and
ventilation.
It is to be regretted that the Consultative Committee did not
see their way to adopt the opinion of the Medical experts rather
than Scholastic experts on this question. The concensus of
opinion amongst sanitarians and medical men would, I think, be
found to be in favour of the exclusion of such young children
from the Public Elementary Schools. Such a policy would, I am
of opinion, enormously strengthen the hands of Sanitary Authorities
in preventing the spread of Measles amongst the younger
children and pari passu lowering the mortality from this disease.
The Borough Council have already passed a resolution in favour
of this policy, and in any further action which they may undertake
in consideration of this Report I would suggest that they
reiterate their views on this important question.
Conclusions.
In considering this Report it will be as well to review the
facts briefly :—
Measles is a disease which, owing to the explosive character
of its onset, is difficult to control. It is responsible annually for
the deaths of a very large number of very young children. It is
spread almost entirely by the medium of Infant Schools. The
measures at present available are clearly shown to be inadequate