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136
MEASLES.
The table on the opposite page gives a very interesting
summary of the cases of this disease for 1912. It will be
observed that, with the exception of Downshall in May and
June, how remarkably free the schools were from this disease
until November is reached. In that month Loxford and
Cleveland Road became affected. In December there was an
expressed desire to close Loxford Junior Mixed, but, as I
had been carefully watching the epidemic, it seemed to me
undesirable to close the school when the epidemic was at its
worst. The Education Authority, however, on financial
grounds anticipated the Christmas holidays by about 10 days,
so that the school was closed for 16 school days in all. Of
course, one might be always closing schools for Measles, if
this procedure was carried out when it would be likely to do
most good—at the beginning of an outbreak. It is practically
impossible to do this, also, too, the association of children together
out of school in a district of this sort is so close that
even then the desired object is not attained. On the other
hand, to close a school when the epidemic is at its height is
obviously useless and is undesirable from a health standpoint,
as thus all knowledge of the occurrence of cases is lost. The
prompt and careful exclusion of particular scholars seems to
me undoubtedly the most satisfactory method to adopt, and
the one likely to give the best results.