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34
These mortality rates may be taken as a fairly approximate
indication of the relative prevalence of measles in
various years, though the absence of deaths does not necessarily
point to the absence of an outbreak—thus in 1905,
although no deaths were recorded, it was considered advisable
to close the infants' department of one school, and both departments
of another, owing to the large number of families
affected.
Reviewing the reports of the past three years, I find that
Measles was very prevalent in all parts of Finchley during
the first half of the year 1904. In the following year the
disease gave rise to little trouble. In 1906, seven deaths
from Measles occurred during the first half of the year, but
none in the second half.
On December 17th, 1906, after a considerable interval of
apparent freedom from cases of Measles, a case came to my
notice in a family attending the East Finchley Council
School, the next case I heard of was in North Finchley on
January 25th, 1907. By the end of February cases had
occurred at each of the eight public elementary schools in
the District, with the exception of the Higher Elementary
School. The existence of a considerable number of cases of
Whooping Cough, German Measles, and Chicken-pox also
helped to reduce the school attendances, and between the
end of February and beginning of June five out of seven
infants' departments and three of the mixed schools were
closed for various periods, in each instance mainly on account
of Measles or Measles associated with Whooping Cough. St.
John's School was closed all through March on account of
Chicken-pox, and when re-opened Measles made but little
headway in the school till towards the close of the year; at
the beginning of November, however, Measles was spreading
rapidly and it was found necessary to close the Infants'
Department.