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in notification, but in the education of the masses, and in the
taking of certain precautions against school infection.
The slow and sure remedy is to make our educational system a
rational one, in which, in the selection of the matter that is taught,
sufficient consideration is given to that which is of vital importance.
There are subjects taught at schools which not only might, but ought
to give place, on the score of expediency, usefulness, and even of
humanity, to such matters as the Laws of Health, the precautions
that may be taken against disease—infectious and otherwise, and
special instruction should be given to girls on the healthy rearing of
children.
The active co-operation of school authorities with the local
authorities should always prove of value, but many experiences show
that teachers either frequently fail to notify cases of suspicious illness,
or only do so after many cases have occurred. If, then, we are
to reap the greatest benefit in the direction of checking the spread of
Measles through schools, it appears to me that we must act up to the
knowledge we now possess, i.e., that several infectious diseases largely
spread through schools. The scholars in each school would then be
examined by a medical man, at frequent intervals during even interepidemic
periods, and almost daily during epidemic prevalence ; all
suspects would be sent home and requested to see a doctor, and all
absentees visited and the true cause of their absence ascertained. A
scheme which thus fully takes advantage of all the means which
schools offer of (a) educating the future parents and of (b) gaining
early information and of checking the spread of infection, appeals to
me as likely to offer the surest means of reducing Measles
mortality.
SMALL-POX.
A case of Small-pox was notified early in the year. The patient
was a young seamstress, who made up some sleeves while in bed
suffering from what was thought to be a bad bilious attack. These