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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The following measures were suggested for mitigating the effects of measles
epidemics:—
Efforts should be made to postpone an attack until after the third-fifth
years of age.
Adequate medical, nursing and hygienic care being the most important
means for preventing the onset of complications, arrangements should be
made for these facilities to be available where required either in the form of
(a) hospital treatment or (6) the provision of nursing facilities.
The discovery of cases of measles in their earliest stages in order that
provision of treatment may be considered before complications arise.
The maintenance of a supply of measles serum in a form convenient
for use either in hospitals or in the homes.
The instruction of the public in the serious consequences that may arise
from measles attacks and in the measures to be taken to mitigate the effects
of the disease.
The preparation of the plans by the public health authorities for meeting
emergencies in anticipation of measles epidemics.
The following statement shows the numbers of school cases reported weekly by the head teachers, up to Christmas, during recent epidemics:—
Weeks. | 1919. | 1921. | 1923. | 1925. | 1927. | 1929. | 1931. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
October. | |||||||
1st week | 100 | 94 | 249 | 265 | 89 | 62 | 72 |
2nd week | 128 | 103 | 301 | 315 | 129 | 104 | 73 |
3rd week | 173 | 175 | 307 | 275 | 161 | 145 | 97 |
4th week | 179 | 213 | 389 | 479 | 217 | 152 | 142 |
5th week | — | — | — | 435 | 259 | 118 | 80 |
November. | |||||||
1st week | 237 | 195 | 440 | 803 | 211 | 273 | 149 |
2nd week | 293 | 269 | 644 | 592 | 260 | 254 | 139 |
3rd week | 273 | 307 | 678 | 872 | 379 | 353 | 146 |
4th week | 540 | 403 | 731 | 1,035 | 569 | 394 | 217 |
5th week | 551 | — | 732 | — | — | — | — |
December. | |||||||
1st week | 438 | 359 | 915 | 1,251 | 684 | 455 | 235 |
2nd week | 530 | 431 | 1,058 | 1,421 | 775 | 511 | 234 |
3rd week | 324 | 316 | 924 | 1,528 | 856 | 473 | 270 |
4th week (part) ... | — | 237 | — | 777 | 663 | — | 98 |
The average number of school cases reported weekly during the first three
weeks of March, 1932, was 1,950.
As will be seen from this statement the present epidemic was unusually slow in
developing in the schools. Preparations for dealing with the epidemic were
commenced in June. The "scheme of control" which is applied in the schools
during measles epidemics has been fully explained in previous reports. It may be
again stated that the sole object of this scheme is to bring to the notice of the borough
medical officers of health cases of measles in their earliest stages in order that
consideration may be given to the question of providing home nursing facilities or
arranging for admission to hospital.
The observations of each of the borough medical officers of health on the working
of this scheme had been obtained shortly after the end of the last epidemic and in
collaboration with Dr. F. L. Keith, hon. secretary of the Metropolitan Borough
Medical Officers' Group, a summary of these was prepared for consideration by the
members of the Group. As a result of subsequent discussions on suggestions made
by some of the borough medical officers it was finally decided that modifications
should be introduced into the scheme to meet the difficulties arising from the same
cases being reported from different sources (e.g., school nurse, school attendance
officer, head teacher) and further, that the health visitors on the staff of the borough