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63
In 1898 a letter was received from the School Board for London
on the subject, and in accordance with a resolution of the Committee
I addressed a circular letter to the various vestries and district
boards asking for their views on the question. The replies received
showed a considerable divergence of opinion, and in these circumstances
the Committee think it desirable to consult the Councils of
the Metropolitan Boroughs with reference to the proposal.
I am accordingly to ask that your Council will be so good as to
state whether they are in favour of the extension to measles of the
provisions contained in any or all of the sections above mentioned.
You will observe that these sections do not relate to the question of
" notification," which is dealt with in sections 55 and 56.
I shall be glad to be favoured with a reply by the end of January,
1901.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
The Town Clerk, g. L. gomme, Clerk of the Council.
City of Westminster.
This letter was referred to the Public Health Committee for
consideration, when they requested the Medical Officers of Health of
the Council to consider and report upon the subject. In accordance
with the above decision of the Committee, the Medical Officers of
Health presented the following joint Report:—
Measles.
To the Health Committee.
Mr. Chairman, Lords, and Gentlemen,
We, the Medical Officers of Health of the City, beg to report
that the following are the grounds upon which we recently reported
in favour of the inclusion of " measles " in the term " dangerous and
infectious disease," for the purposes set out in the letter of the
Clerk of the London County Council, of the 1st December, 1900.
At the same time we desire to point out that we do not report in
favour of measles being added to the list of legally notifiable
diseases, and that the adoption of these sections of the Act by the
County Council would not make it a notifiable disease.
The sections of the Public Health Act quoted in the letter give
power to local authorities to require disinfection after cases of
measles, and to prevent children suffering from measles attending
school, or being exposed in public.
We find that disinfection is now carried oat after measles in
most London boroughs where possible, and it is obviously desirable
that local authorities should have power to deal with any cases