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43
The subject of Infectious Diseases in schools is from a Public
Health standpoint closely allied with the attendance of children
under five years of age, and merits discussion from this point of
view.
Statistics prove that children under five are not only more
liable to be attacked by Infectious Disease, but if attacked there
is a far greater risk of the attack proving fatal.
The following figures for England and Wales for the ten
years 1881 to 1890, clearly show this:—
Under Five. All ages.
Death-rate from Measles 3.1 per 1000 0.4 per 1000
That is, the death-rate of children under five is nearly eight
times as great as that at all ages.
The death rate from Scarlet Fever during the same period
was:—
Under Five. At all ages.
1.7 per 1000. 0.3 per 1000
In this case the death-rate of children under five is nearly six
times as great.
Dr. Whitelegge has well expressed this, as follows:—
"In shielding a child against infection during the first
few years of life, there is a double gain; every year
of escape from Scarlet Fever renders him less and
less susceptible, and secondly, even if he should
ultimately take the disease, every year that the
attack is deferred reduces the danger to life which it
brings."
The same applies with almost equal force to Measles, Whooping
Cough and other Infectious Diseases of children.
The statistics of East Ham are interesting from this point of
view.
I find that from April, 1900 to December, 1905, the closing of
schools for Infectious Diseases has been enforced on 20 occasions.
Once only has an entire school been closed, but on every other