Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Report on vital statistics and sanitary work for the year 1898
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Schools.—The Infant Departments of the undermentioned
schools were closed by order of the Vestry
as the Sanitary Authority between the dates specified
on account of the epidemic of measles:—
Board Schools, Campbell Street March 15th—29th.
St. Paul's Church Schools March 29th—April 18th.
St. Mary's March 31st—April 18th.
The attendances in the Infant Departments of some
of the other schools were very greatly reduced, but
closure was not found necessary. A special report
dealing with each school was laid before the Committee,
copies being sent to the Local Government Board, the
County Council, and the School Managers, as required
by the Order of the Local Government Board.
Closure of a part, or the whole, of a school is
intended to limit the spread of infection, but under
ordinary circumstances the intervention of the Sanitary
Authority is not sought by the officers of the school
for that reason. The grants under the Education
Acts depend largely on the attendance arrived at by
striking the average for the number of times in the
year that the school registers are open and filled up.
During a period of closure by the Sanitary Authority,
the attendance on the days of closure (sufficient to
make up 400 registers) is reckoned as being equal to
the average calculated on the attendances of the rest
of the year. It is to save the lowering of the average