London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Marylebone 1903

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Marylebone, Metropolitan Borough]

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61
years of their lives from an attack of measles, which makes
them immune from a second attack. An inquiry with
regard to the Woolwich Schools show how large a proportion
of infants attending school have thus been rendered immune.
It, therefore, appears common sense that if measles breaks
out in a school an inquiry should be made of the parents of
the children, and from the information thus obtained the
pupils be divided into two groups, the one of children which
have had measles, and therefore if exposed to infection are
not likely to suffer, the other group children who have
not had measles, and therefore constitute the combustible
material.
In the Infant School at Woolwich, which formed the
subject of investigation, seven classes showed varying
conditions of possible receptivity from 7 to 29 per cent. In
the most favourable class, for instance, out of 58 pupils, 54
were protected, 4 were not protected ; in the least favourable
class 42 were protected, 17 were unprotected. Under such
conditions it would seem wisest to simply prohibit the
unprotected children from coming to the school; thus
interfering but little with instruction and preventing the
necessity of school closure. The closing of schools is now a
more serious thing than formerly, since the Authorities
have, in the writer's opinion, most unwisely abolished the
grants paid under Article 101 to Schools closed by order of
a Sanitary Authority.
The Laboratory—Sale of Food and Drugs Acts.
During the past three months there have been analysed,
under the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts, 152 samples of
food, drink, and drugs, a full list of which is printed on page
(52 Table II.
Of the 152 samples, only two were found to be adulterated.
The two samples in question were samples of milk :
Maria Horton, of 44, Richmond Street, was convicted
of selling milk diluted with at least 10 per cent, of water.
The defendant was fined 20s. with 12s. 6d. costs.
John Gowlett, of 113, Crawford Street, was fined £4
and 12s. 6d. costs for selling milk deficient to the extent of
16.7 per cent, of milk fat. The same vendor had been fined
for butter adulteration in March, 1902.