Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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from such attendance. Dr. Kerr reports that during the year ending March, 1905, 71 class-rooms
and 14 departments were closed on account of measles in the provided schools, and one class-room
and ten departments in the non-provided schools. All of these, except one in the Junior Mixed department,
were in the Infants' departments. The system of observation of the behaviour of measles in
schools in one group of which closure was practised and in the other group the schools remained
open, was continued in Woolwich, the borough being divided into two districts for this purpose.
Dr. Thomas, who has on behalf of the County Council studied the behaviour of measles
in Woolwich under these conditions, states that the experience hitherto gained seems to justify the
conclusion that " if children under five were excluded from school, closure for measles would not be
necessary for some time in London, except in one or two special districts; if, however, this were successful
in postponing attacks,the question would again become acute in a few years"; and again, "To effect
any useful purpose, school closure must take place before the' first crop ' falls. The old practice of waiting
until the attendance fell to a certain limit was useless in arresting the spread of measles and did absolutely
no good." Apart from school closure, Dr. Thomas regards the provision of sanitary buildings and
training of teachers as two. factors which " probably have the greatest effect of all in determining the
extent of spread of an outbreak." He regrets the withdrawal by the Board of Education of Article 101, for
the reason that the " average attendance " which determines the grant is affected by the closure of a class
but not of a whole department, and he states that: "We thus have great difficulty in carrying out our
measures, as much opposition is often encountered to the necessary closing of a single class, while the
unnecessary closure of a whole department is gladly borne or even welcomed." See Appendix III.
By direction of the Public Health Committee, inquiry was made in the early part of 1905 as to the steps taken by London sanitary authorities in connection with the disinfection of premises, and of bedding, clothing, etc., after occurrence of measles, and also as to the steps taken to impress people with the need of taking precautions as to measles. The replies of medical officers of health are embodied in the following tabular statement:-
Sanitary areas. | Is disinfection of infected premises carried out after all cages of measles which come to the knowledge of your authority ? | Is disinfection of infected bedding, clothing, etc., carried out after all cases of measles which come to the knowledge of your authority? | Has your authority taken any steps in the way of distribution of leaflets or otherwise with a view to impressing upon people the importance of taking precautions as to measles ? |
---|---|---|---|
Paddington | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Kensington | Yes, (in a few instances objected to by occupiers) | Yes, in infected rooms | Only by posting at work, shops L.C.C. posters |
Hammersmith | Yes | Yes | No |
Fulham | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Chelsea | No. Only at request of occupier | No. Only at request of occupier | Lady inspector has visited over 200 premises where |
measles existed | |||
Westminster, City of | No reply received | - | - |
St. Marylebone | Not in all cases, but in a good many | Not in all cases, but in a good many | No |
Hampstead | No. In majority of cases | As far as possible | Yes |
St. Pancras | Not in all cases, only when requested and permitted | Not in all cases, only when requested and permitted | Yes |
Islington | No. Often do not hear of cases until after children are well | No | Yes |
Stoke Newington | No | No | Yes, leaflets |
Hackney | Yes, after most cases | Yes, after most cases | Yes |
Holborn | Yes, with few exceptions, illness of mother, etc. | Yes, except where dis infection is carried out to the satisfaction of the doctor | Now under consideration |
Fins bury | Yes | Yes | Yes, by card for distribution |
London, City of | Yes | Yes | No |
Shoreditch | Yes, in most instances | Yes, in most instances | Yes |
Bethnal-green | Yes, with consent of occupants | Yes, with consent of occupants | No |
Stepney | Only in cases which are early reported | Only in cases which are early reported | Yes |
Poplar | Yes | Yes | No, sanitary inspector calls and leaves papers as in ordinary notifications |
Southwark | Yes, in all cases where termination of cases becomes known | Yes; in all cases where termination of cases becomes known | Yes, leaflets and posters |
Bermondsey | Yes, as far as possible | Yes; as far as possible | Distribution of leaflets contemplated |
Lambeth | Yes | Yes | Yes, leaflets |
Battersea | Yes | Bedding, etc.,- is not removed, but disinfected in the home | Leaflet left at infected house and special districts where measles is prevalent |
Wandsworth | Yes | No | No |
Camberwell | Yes | Yes | Not since 1900 |
Deptford | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Greenwich | Yes (exceptions in special circumstances) | Yes (exceptions in special circumstances) | Yes |
Lewisham | Yes, only in small number of oases | Yes | Yes, leaflets |
Woolwich | No | No, only on application | Yes, two kinds of leaflets |