View report page

41
taking on epidemic proportions. Without such institution accommodation,
it was inevitable that the epidemic would sooner or later become
widespread and get out of hand. Schools (not only the public elementary
and p'ivate schools, but also Sunday schools) have undoubtedly
helped the spread of the diseases, which are, each, highly infectious in
the very early stages, and before the appearances of any rashes. Further,
there is the additional fact that parents and others regard these particular
diseases (Measles and German Measles) as of no importance,
and as sorts of diseases that every child must have, and the parents
and others may argue, in consequence, that "the sooner, the better";
in fact, cases have been reported where parents have actually deliberately
placed children, who had not shown any signs of the diseases,
in rooms wherein were other children (brothers and sisters) who were,
in fact, at the time suffering from such diseases. With regard to
school attendances it is well known that, during an outbreak of
Measles, or German Measles, the numbers of cases increase after the
schools reassemble and decrease after the schools are closed for the
holidays, or under the orders of the Medical Officers of Health. The
dangers of infection spreading amongst school children playing about
in the streets are trifling, compared with the danger of infection
spreading amongst school children crowding in schools and class
rooms, and crowding in school playgrounds, though the dangers of
infection spreading through Sunday Schools, and picture palaces, and
other places of amusement, or private parties, must not be forgotten
That schools may play a consideiable part in spreading infectious
diseases is now generally acknowledged, and suitable preventive
measures should be taken. This, however, is a matter that concerns
the Educational Authority (the London County Council), which still
allows the attendances at schools ot children who have previously had,
or are reported to have had previously, attacks of Measles. This may
prove to be a somewhat dangerous regulation, as infection may be
carried thereby, in the clothes of the scholars, even though the scholars
may not themselves be suffering personally from the disease, or be
likely to suffer from it a second time (second attacks being rare).
All these facts show the difficulty of dealing satisfactorily with an
epidemic of Measles and German Measles, and this difficulty,
when it arises, under present conditions, is increased on account of