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21
January 10th, when the School was re-opened, out of a
possible 233 scholars only 123 were present, and of the absent
ones twenty-five were known to be suffering from Measles.
The school-room was thoroughly disinfected on a day when the
scholars were absent, the desks, &c., washed with 1 in 40
carbolic acid, and the disease soon began to rapidly abate.
Notification of Measles.—The Committee had under consideration
a letter from the London County Council, dated 18th
April, forwarding copy of a letter received by the Council from
the School Board for London on the question of classifying
measles as a " dangerous infectious disease," for the purposes
set out in section 68 of the Public Health (London) Act, and
in order that sanitary authorities may have power to proceed,
if necessary, against parents who send their children to school
while suffering from measles. Having had experience of the
notification of Measles in years gone by, and recognising that
Measles is infectious before the rash appears, the Committee
recommended that no action be taken in the matter.
During the year 48 deaths occurred from Measles, compared
with 23 in 1897.
Whooping Cough.—Whooping Cough, too, was very prevalent
at the beginning of the year, and 37 deaths occurred,
compared with 13 in 1897.
Influenza.—During the year nineteen deaths occurred from
this disease, eight being in St. Margaret's Parish, and 11 in St.
John's. In 1897 eight deaths only occurred.
Notification of Infectious Diseases arising in General
Hospitals in a Parish.
As there has been a good deal of controversy as to the
reading of section 55 (1) (b) of the Public Health (London)
Act, 1891, the Statistical Committee of the Mstropolitan
Asylums Board published the following report to the various
Metropolitan Sanitary Authorities
By section 55 (1) (b) of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, it
is provided that "every medical practitioner attending on or
called in to visit the patient shall forthwith, on becoming