Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lambeth, Metropolitan Borough of]
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Measles over the average for that decennium, and a saving
of 89 deaths from Whooping' Cough over the average during
the same period.
Measles.
With regard to Measles, extra precautions are taken in
connection with disinfection of Measles-infected houses, exclusion
of children (both infected children and also children
from infected houses) from schools, the closing of classes or
whole schools on account of outbreak 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 a trivial complaint of childhood.
Measles is not compulsorily notifiable, but, through
Schools, 2393 cases (during 1910) were reported to the
Borough Council. Measles being chiefly a "School"
Disease, this voluntary system of notification is valuable.
Of the 122 deaths from Measles in Lambeth Borough
during 1910, 112 (i.e., 91.8 per cent.) occurred amongst
children under 5 years of age, showing that Measles is a
disease of young children, and especially fatal to such. 24
of the deaths (i.e., 19.7 per cent.) occurred amongst infants
under 1 year of age.
During 1910 in the Borough of Lambeth disinfection has
been carried out in connection with 2123 Measles-infected
houses as compared with 1601, 1504, 1998, 836, 1970, 1294,
1346, 364, 728 and 941 during 1909, 1908, 1907, 1906, 1905.
1904, 1903, 1902, 1901 and 1900 respectively.
Measles is spread chiefly through Schools, especially Infants'
Departments' and during 1910 special precautions
have been taken in respect thereto in the way of (a) School
or Class Closure; or (b) Exclusion of all "Unprotected"
Children, i.e., those who have not previously had an attack
of the disease—the latter method securing the minimum interference
with School attendance, and being, therefore, a