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houses) from schools, the closing of classes or whole schools on
account of outbreaks of Measles, the distributing of leaflets and
posters, and the educating of parents to regard Measles as a
serious or dangerous infectious disease, and not as a trivial complaint
of childhood.
Measles is not compulsorily notifiable, but, through L.C.C.
Schools, 2770 cases (during 1907) were reported to the Borough
Council. Measles being chiefly a "School" Disease, this
voluntary system of notification is most desirable, and will, it is
hoped, be, in the future, extended (vide Appendix).
Of the 107 deaths from Measles in Lambeth Borough during
1907, 104 (i.e., 97.2 per cent.) occurred amongst children under
5 years of age, shewing that Measles is a disease of young
children, and especially fatal to such. 26 of the deaths (i.e.,
24.3 per cent.) occurred amongst infants under 1 year of age.
During 1907 in the Borough of Lambeth disinfection has been
carried out in connection with 1998 Measles.infected houses as
compared with 836, 1970, 1294, 1346, 364, 728, and 941 during
1900, 1905, 1904, 1903, 1902, 1901 and 1900 respectively.
Measles is spread chiefly through Schools, especially Infants.
Departments, and during 1907 special precautions have been
taken in respect thereto, as follows :—
St. Johns Schools, Canterbury Road (Infants. Department).—
The Infants. Department (babies' class.room) was closed for 18
days on June 6th, 1907, on account of an outbreak of Measles
amongst the scholars (rising epidemic), an average of 15 per cent,
of the infants being absent suffering from the disease. The
usual disinfection was carried out. Result of closure was a
decline in the number of Measles cases. No action was taken
in respect to the other two class.rooms of the Infants. Department.