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51
Maryon Park School.—One or two cases had appeared in the neighbourhood of this school
before the summer holidays, and, in spite of the closing of schools for a month, these continued to
smoulder throughout the vacation. Soon after school resumed on August 22nd cases began to fail,
the first cases occurring at so early a period that the children must have been infected in the
holiday; thus two cases occurred in Class D on August 27th (diagram, XVII.); Class D was the
best protected in the department, and upon this occasion did not become infected.
On September 1st and 2nd two cases occurred in Class A (the babies' room), and from them
nine cases arose : five in Class B and three in Class C, while one secondary case only arose in Class A.
This is most remarkable, seeing that Class A was full of combustible material, while Classes
B and C were much better protected, and the only explanation that can be given is that the
infection took place to and from the school, and not in school; the babies would not walk
home together in a body, but would be taken home by older children. This " first crop"
occurred between September 12th and 15th; the second crop came down in these two classes between
September 21st and 30th, and numbered 44 cases in these two classes ; as usual, this second crop
was practically the final one. In the babies' room (Class A) 5 cases came down during these latter
dates, and the next crop, from October 3rd to 14th, comprised 22 cases, and practically ended the
outbreak.
In Class D another independent infection took place on September 16th, a first crop of 7 failed
between September 27th and 30th, and the second and final crop between October 3rd and 14th,
comprising 13 cases.
Out of 311 children at the beginning of the outbreak 161 had not previously had measles—
i.e. 52 per cent.; out of these 115 contracted measles, or 72 per cent.; 5 of the 161 were said to be
second attacks.
Very careful inquiries were made in this outbreak as to the spread of measles in the homes,
and out of the 115 cases which occurred it was found that in 36 instances it was definitely
contracted out of school (marked by crosses in diagram , the following case being instructive (for
diagram XVIII., see page 52):—
Nellie I. (set. 5) failed with measles on September 16th; before she was isolated she played
with her cousin, Charles B. (æt. 5), and her bosom friend, Gertie W. (æt. 5). These two children
contracted measles from her, Charles B. imparting it to the rest of his family (3 in number)
through his sister, Annie B., and also giving it to his next-door neighbour and chum, Chris. C.
(failed 11.10.04.).
Gertie W. (failed 30.9.04) imparted it to her brother, Dick W. (failed 10.10.04).
Nellie I.'s mother was expecting an addition to the family, so since Nellie's attack was only
slight she was allowed to get out of doors rather early, after a week's isolation. Nellie repaired,
thereupon (on September 24th), to the house of her other bosom friend, Lily S. (æt. 5). and assisted
the latter in the task of caring for Sammy S. (æt. 1.8/12); accordingly, Lily and Sammy took
measles, and failed on October 7th and 9th respectively. All Nellie's five-year-old companions