View report page

26
Strand.—On account of the prevalence of measles in the latter part of the year it became necessary
to take steps to require the exclusion from school of children from infected houses, and St. Patrick's
School was closed a fortnight before the usual Christmas holidays. Returns were obtained from all the
schools in Soho of those who were absent, and the houses of absentees in that parish visited and leaflets
distributed giving necessary instructions.
Poplar (south district).—Measles was especially prevalent among the children of the infant
department of the Bromley, St. Leonard's, national schools. The first information of this prevalence
which the medical officer of health received came from the vicar of Bromley.
Lambeth.—The part played by schools in disseminating measles is discussed in the report of the
medical officer of health. He gives account of four schools the infants' departments of which were
closed on account of prevalence of measles. In these schools the proportions of children absent
before closure were 40, 25, 43 and 46 per cent. respectively. The number of days during which the
schools were closed was 18, 21 and 35 in the case of three of the schools, and in the case of the fourth a
longer period elapsed owing to the occurrence of the Christmas holidays. The results in each case
were completely satisfactory. He expresses the opinion that the shortest period for which a school is
closed on account of measles should be three weeks "owing to the average incubation and duration of
this particular disease being ten days and three weeks respectively."
Plumstead.—The medical officer of health thus writes—
"In my last report reference was made to my unsuccessful efforts to arrange for a school notification
of measles. I have now found that the School Board Code already provided for this, but, owing to
the paragraph in which it is contained being somewhat ambiguously worded, teachers generally were
unaware of their duty in this respect. On my recommendation the vestry wrote to the School Board,
calling their attention to the fact that teachers did not understand the rule concerning notification of
absentees on account of infectious diseases, to apply to diseases which, like measles, were non-notifiable;
and asking the Board to call their attention to their duty in this respect. This the Board has done, but
I regret to say there are still a large number of teachers who pay no attention to the Board's instructions.
I have, however, already received a large number of notifications, and I have reason to hope that
the action I have been able to take upon them has materially contributed to lessen the spread of the
measles epidemic now prevailing."
The subject of notification of measles is referred to in several of the annual reports of medical
officers of health, thus—
Kensington. "It would be of little or no use to have notification of measles unless hospital
"accommodation were provided on a large scale for the use of the sufferers therefrom, and of this there
"is no present prospect."
Fulham.—Referring to the carelessness of parents, who often make no effort to prevent their
children, while suffering from measles, from associating with others and from attending school, it is
stated that the vestry had sought the notification of measles, and the Local Government Board and
London County Council had been communicated with. The opinion is expressed that a modified
system of notification of measles should be tried, by which the first attack in every house invaded shall be
notified, but no subsequent case occurring in the same house within thirty days. Inasmuch as frequently
there is no medical man in attendance, the duty of notifying should be imposed on the parent or
guardian as well as on the medical practitioner. The need of hospital accommodation is urged, less
for the purpose of isolation than for the treatment of patients under home conditions unfavourable to
their recovery.
St. George, Hanover-square.—The medical officer of health presented a special report, in which
he recommended the vestry not to apply for the notification of measles. He points out that where
notification had been tried in other communities, it had not been found to produce advantageous
results. He recommends the closing of the infants' departments of schools in which outbreaks occur.
Stoke Newington.—The medical officer of heaith is of opinion that in rural districts and in small
isolated communities notification of measles may be useful if every advantage is taken of the information
thus obtained, if efforts also be made to detect unnotified cases, and the means of effectual isolation
be provided; but in large communities, especially when not adopted in neighbouring districts,
the measure is not to be recommended in the absence of sufficient isolation provision, a large permanent
staff, and the adoption of other means than "notification" of bringing the existence of cases to
the knowledge of the sanitary authority.
St. Giles.—The medical officer of health considers notification of measles is desirable as it would
enable the sanitary authority to visit, with a view of excluding children from infected houses from
attendance at public schools.
Holborn.— The medical officer of health is of opinion that notification of measle9 by the head of
the family should be compulsory, and that children from affected houses should not be allowed to
attend school.
Bethnal-green.—The medical officer of health writes that he would limit medical certification to
the first case in each household and impose the duty of reporting subsequent cases on the parent or
guardian.
Poplar (north district).—The medical officer of health is inclined to modify his opinion that
notification must be accompanied by hospital accommodation, and states that he is satisfied measles
should be notified.
St. George, Southward.—The medical officer of health states that the compulsory notification of
measles throughout London, and subsequent hospital treatment and disinfection, could not fail in a
poor parish like that of St. r~eorge to result in a great saving of life.
Newington.—The medical officer of health recommends the notification of measles on the
ground that it would cause greater care to be exercised in dealing with cases of this disease.
Battersea.—The medical officer of health regards the fact that the deaths from measles and
whooping-cough are more numerous than the deaths from the diseases which are notified, constitutes a
strong argument in favour of the notification of all infectious diseases.