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75
Congress on School Hygiene, London, 1907 (Trans. Vol. II., p. 638), some
further conclusions were drawn.
"The following conclusions have been jointly arrived at by the two
w i iters:—
"1 Probably every human individual is susceptible to measles until
protected by a previous attack.
"2. Exposure of unprotected individuals to infection is almost
certainly followed by an attack.
"3. It is impossible to prevent the frequent introduction of measles
into schools.
"4. Once introduced into a class, measles will spread with a rapidity
proportional to the number of non-protected children attending
if the class continues to assemble.
"5. The first crop will occur in about twelve days after the first case,
and in twelve days more the majority of unprotected children
will have been attacked.
"G. Closure, to be effectual, must occur within ten days of the first
attendance of the initial case in an infectious state.
''7. With the means at present available early notification of the
first case is not usually to be secured.
"8. When closure is effectual in keeping measles out of a school for
a time, the rate of spread when again introduced will increase
proportionally, and it will only be possible to postpone an
outbreak for a short time.
"9. To the extent to which this can be done, and the age incidence
raised, measles mortality will be lessened.
" 10. School closure, as generally applied, is futile as a preventive
measure.
''11. We consider that, with the present available means, early school
closure cannot be applied with sufficient success to make it
desirable, in view of the loss of school attendance and annoyance
to parents and teachers caused. N.15. — It should be stated that
Professor Dr. Eberstaller (Gratz) was rather more successful in
the application of this measure. (See his paper, 'International
Magazine of School Hygiene,' Vol. III., Part 1.)
"12. Though preventive measures have largely failed to reduce the
prevalence of measles, education of parents by leaflets, and instruction
given by health visitors and others, has the effect of
greatly reducing the mortality of this disease.
"13. The great majority of children only have one attack of measles,
and the infection is unlikely to be carried by a third person.
"14. When two-thirds of a class are protected by a previous attack,
measles is not likely to spread even if introduced, and measles
contacts in the class who have had measles themselves need not
be excluded from school.