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32. In face of this striking fact one naturally asks what is
the Sanitary Authority doing to diminish the ravages of this
fatal malady ? and the answer is very little. By order of the
Health Committee, I again distributed some 9,000 copies of
the handbill of precautions which was issued in 1895 (see
Appendix).
33. The Health Committee also authorized me to write to
the Directors of Voluntary Schools, asking them to adopt the
same precautions with respect to Measles, as are required of
the teachers of the London Board Schools.
The School Board teachers do not admit a child who has
had measles, till a month has elapsed from the commencement
of the illness. They also refuse admission to any child
coming from the same house as the patient for two weeks from
the onset of the disease. The Directors of the Central and
All Saints' Day Schools replied expressing their intention to
comply with the Committee's request.
34. So much but no more has been done. It is doubtless
true that in a disease like Measles, the onset of which is
difficult to recognize, but which is very infectious in the early
unrecognized stage, we cannot hope to diminish its prevalence
to the same extent as in Scarlet Fever. But I believe a good
deal can be done, and if only a few lives can be saved every
year no pains, and no moderate expense should be spared. I
have never yet advocated the general notification of Measles,
as it appears doubtful from the experience of places where it
has been tried whether the results are commensurate with the
expense. It has been proposed lately that the fir3t case only
in a house should be notified and paid for. This plan would
no doubt be very advantageous and much less expensive than
a general notification, but I think it could not be enforced