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30
M easles.
Measles was exceptionally prevalent during the first six months of 1915. The total number of
eases reported from the schools during the year was 31,313. An epidemic commencing in the early part
of February spread quickly throughout the whole of London and increased in intensity until June, when
the inc dence began rapidly to decline. During the period after the summer holidays until the end of
the year the disease was quiescent. The numbers of schools and departments under observation during
the year were 857 and 986 respectively.
Measles and German measles were made notifiable diseases by order of the Local Government.
Board on the 27th November, 1915. The regulations are cited as the Public Health (Measles and German
Measles) Regulations, 1915, and provide that every parent or guardian, or other person, as soon as he
becomes aware of, or has reasonable grounds for supposing that any person in his charge is suffering from
measles or German measles shall, unless the case has already been notified by a medical practitioner,
forthwith notify the case to the medical officer of health for the district, stating the name, age and address
of the patient. Medical practitioners are required to notify the first case in the household, i.e., if a case
has not occurred within the preceding two months, unless a notification has already been sent under the
regulations or the appropriate Notification Act in force in the district concerned, or unless the case is
being treated in a hospital for infectious diseases. The Order applies to the whole of England and Wales
and the prescribed date of commencement of operation of the regulations is 1st January, 1916.
Nuising of
cases of
measles in
I ho homes.
Considerable attention has been devoted to the question of the nursing treatment of measles in
the poorer class homes, and in this connection the district nursing association has been considering in
conjunction with the Local Government Board, the London County Council and sanitary authorities, as
to the most practicable means of securing the co-operation of the various district nursing associations and
local sanitary authorities with the object of providing nursing attendance on persons suffering from
measles and whooping cough, particularly young children, in homes where such services are required.
Reports of these conferences have been circulated among the authorities concerned, and it is hoped that
practical results will accrue in the future not only in the reduction of infant mortality, but in the prevention
of complications due to secondary infections.
Measles
experiment.
The measles experiment in the electoral areas of Southwark, W., Bermondsey and Walworth,
which was commenced in January, 1913, has continued in operation during 1915. The scheme was
devised for the purpose of securing earlier notification of cases of measles occurring among school children.
Throughout the year 1915, 955 cases of measles were reported from the schools in the areas concerned,
and information concerning 137 of these cases was received on the telephone from attendance officers,
thereby enabling action to be taken at the school in a large number of cases more promptly than would
have been the case under ordinary conditions.
In spite of the general epidemic affecting all districts of London, the areas in which the special
arrangements were in operation were less seriously affected. The evidence points to the fact that the
increased vigilance exercised in these districts both by attendance officers and teachers has produced
beneficial results.
Whcoping
cough
Whooping cough was slightly more prevalent during 1915 as compared with the two preceding
years.
Closure of,
and exclusion
from, school
1 here was only one occasion on which school closing was resorted to, i.e., Swafheld-road School,
where an unusual prevalence of scarlet fever and diphtheria occurred (vide p. 32). For the purpose
of preventing the spread of measles, unprotected children were excluded from 1,231 classrooms.
Ringworm,
There has been a substantial reduction in the number of cases of ringworm during the last two
years, the number of cases reported in each of the last five years being as follows : 6,214, 5,311, 5,573,
4,449 and 3,747 respectively. The proportion of cases treated by X-rays has risen from 30 per cent.
to nearly 50 per cent. of the cured cases, and there is no doubt that the attention paid by school
nurses to rineworm is laraelv responsible for the notable reduction of cases.
Favus.
During 1915, 29 fresh cases of favus were discovered, chiefly in the East-end schools, as compared
with 38 in 1914 and 49 in 1913. Of the 29 cases, 16 were treated by means of X-rays and the remainder
by ointments and lotions at hospitals. At the end of the year there were 22 children known to be suffering
from favus.
Defective children.
Defective
children.
During the year four new schools have been opened, one for mentally defective, one for physically
defective, one for myopic children, and one for partially deaf children ; two schools for physically defective
and two for mentally defective children have been closed.
The total number of examinations under the special Acts during the year was 5,777 as compared
with 6,866 for 1914. Of these 1,393 were deemed suitable to attend elementary school,739 were invalided,
121 were deemed suitable to attend a blind school, 223 a school for myopes, 135 were sent to deaf
and 62 to partially deaf schools, 52 were epileptic, 1,186 suitable for physically defective schools, 1,742
for mentally defective schools, 116 were deemed imbecile, and 8 idiot.
Rota vieits.
The special schools were visited at least once a quarter, and every child present was seen at least
once during the year. During these visits the scholars were re-classified, and 308 were transferred to
elementary schools, 5 to blind schools and myope schools, 12 to schools for the deaf or partially deaf,
41 from P.D. to M.D. schools, 11 from M.D. to P.D. schools, 47 were excluded from M.D. schools as
imbecile, 60 were invalided, and 7 excluded as no longer certifiable. In addition, 442 special examinations
were made in connection with applications for non-enforcement of attendance at special school.