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27
the five years 1896-1900, the death rate from Measles in
Woolwich and Plumstead exceeded the rate in London, but in
the past four years, although the London Measles death rate
has itself diminished, it has been twice as high as the rate in
the Borough. If the death rate prevailing from 1896 to 1900
had continued during the past four years, 96 children would
have died from Measles in Woolwich parish, and 75 in Plumstead,
who are now living.
The number of cases occurring has not apparently diminished,
but the effect of closure of infected classes has, no doubt, been
to raise the age at which children have contracted Measles,
and the higher the age of the children attacked, the fewer the
deaths. The distribution of leaflets has also educated parents
in the proper treatment of the disease, and so diminished its
severity.
37. Of the 1,240 Measles cases notified, 1,048 were actually
attending school, and 192 not attending. The following table
gives the number of cases attending each school, with the
number of scholars on the roll. The schools are arranged in
two groups, according as they are situated in the district in
which class closure is adopted immediately on the occurrence
of Measles in a child while attending school, or not. It
appears that in the schools in which early closure was enforced
the number of Measles cases was 4-07 per cent, of the number
on the roll, and in non-closure schools 4-37 per cent.