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made a few days before the schools were re-opened to ascertain how many children and houses
remained infected, and on each occasion it was found that the disease was practically non-existent.
Stoke Newington—In the early part of the year three schools were closed for three weeks
on account of the prevalence of measles, "and there was reason for believing that the closure
effected some good in checking the extension of the disease." The medical officer of health writes,
"whereas T acknowledge with gratitude the willing assistance rendered me by the head teachers
of the Board and other schools in ascertaining the number and addresses of the absentees from
measles and whooping-cough, I consider it a matter of regret that the regulation of the School
Board for London, requiring that the medical officer of health of the district shall be informed of
a child's exclusion on account of symptoms of infectious disease, is not given effect to as a routine
practice, for it would often materially assist the medical officer of health in taking more prompt
measures to remove further risks of school infection."
Clerkenwell—A special report was received from the medical officer of health on the prevalence
of measles at the end of 1897 among children attending the infants' department of the
Hugh Myddelton Board Schools, which were closed from the 24th December, 1897, to the 17th
January, 1898—
At the close of the year I heard from various sources that a considerable number of cases of measles
were occurring in the central portion of our district. On account of measles being a non-notifiable
disease the information received was necessarily somewhat indefinite, but it gave me the impression that
epidemic was of some importance. On inquiry at the Hugh Myddelton Schools I found that 10 per cent.
of the scholars in the infant department were absent suffering from measles. Seeing that the school
was on the point of closing for the Christmas holidays, I wrote to the Rev. Mr. Rose, chairman of the
board of management of the Hugh Myddelton Schools, suggesting the advisability of extending the
holiday period to three weeks, as the shortest time in which improvement could be reasonably
expected, the matter was placed in the hands of the medical officer to the London School Board,
and he, after making inquiries proposed the closing of the baby class only. I did not think
that measure sufficient for the following reasons: first, a considerable number of children from
every class in the infant's department were suffering from measles; secondly, I had ascertained
that a large number of these cases lived in Northampton-buildings, and adjoining blocks of
workmen's dwellings, and as these dwellings are in close proximity to the schools, even if all
children from families where measles existed were excluded from school, it would be impossible to
prevent them mixing with the children in attendance both in the playground and on the way to school.
I therefore gave my advice that the infant's department should be closed for three weeks, and on that
advice the vestry requested the closure of the department. I may mention that the holiday intended to
be given was considerably shorter than that proposed for the rest of the London Board Schools. The
Hugh Myddelton Schools were to close from December 24th to January 3rd, while the rest of the schools,
I understand, closed for a fortnight.
Shoreditch—Enquiry was made concerning the absence of a large number of children from
the infants' department of the Haggerston Board School through infectious disease, principally
measles. It was not found necessary to do more than exclude from the school children from infected
houses.
Mile-end Old-town—As a result of information obtained from the school teachers, it was
ascertained in the early part of the year that there was an epidemic of measles in the neighbourhood
of South Grove School. The medical officer of health and sanitary inspectors visited the
houses of children absent from school, and the school was closed for some weeks. Some months
later the St. Paul's School was closed for a similar reason. The infants' department of Redman'sroad
School was also closed on account of measles prevalence. "From observation and enquiry the
promptness of closing these schools stopped the spread of the disease."
Poplar (Poplar and Bromley)—At the end of the year, on the advice of the medical officer
of health, the infants' department of the Upper North-street Board School was closed on account
of measles prevalence among the children attending the school, or of its presence in their homes.
"In the letter sent to the School Board attention was called to the want of adequate ventilation of
the cloak-rooms, which are too near the class-rooms, and may cause infection to spread (if there
should be an unknown case of infectious disease) from the clothing hanging up."
(Bow)—The medical officer of health writes: "From one of the Board Schools, however, I
had two lists, under date May 3rd and May 6th, giving me 146 addresses where measles was stated
to be present. Many of these addresses were in adjoining districts, and neither of the deaths
mentioned occurred at the addresses given. I wrote asking if the cases given in the lists were
verified by medical certificates, but to that query I have had no answer. Further than that, the
master had written to the Board for ' instructions.' I believe no medical certificate is required,
and I should therefore say that the returns are unreliable." The report gives no information as
to the results of inquiry, if any, at the homes of the absent children in Bow.
Lambeth—The following schools were closed on account of prevalence of measles—in each
case it is stated that the result of closure was a diminution of the prevalence—Wesleyan Day
Schools, Eden-road, "West Norwood; number of children on roll 238, of whom 22 per cent. were
absent on account of measles; school closed from April 6th to April 25th; Priory-road Board
School, infants' department, number on roll 402, of whom 19.4 per cent, were absent on account of
measles; department closed from April 5th to April 19th; Woodland-road Board School, Upper
Norwood, infants' department, number on roll 286, of whom 24.5 per cent. were absent on account
of measles; department closed from June 14th to July 4th. The medical officer of health writes :
"It seems unfortunate that the School Board authorities do not insist upon a systematic notification
to the medical officer of health of all absentees suffering from infectious diseases which are
not notifiable by medical men."
Wandsworth (Wandsworth)—The medical officer of health writes: "During the year there
were received from the teachers of the Board Schools in the parish notices of 540 cases of measles,
but this does not by any means represent the number of cases which occurred during the year. No
notices are received from the national or private schools, and it is certain that all the cases were not
reported from the Board Schools, some of the teachers complying with the regulations of the School
Board more than others."