View report page

14
Infants' department should be closed for a week longer, until May 16th.
The School holidays began on April 6th and work was re-commenced
on April 18th but owing to the small attendance and the prevalence of the
disease, application was made to the Medical Officer of Health with the
result as stated above.
The School was closed for nearly 5 weeks, the infants' classes being
suspended for nearly 6 weeks, but notwithstanding this, a letter was sent to
the Medical Officer, on May 13th, from the Clerk to the Heston School
Board, asking for his opinion as to the advisability of again closing the
School.
In the absence of Mr. Bullock, I visited the School and examined the
record of attendances with the Heads of the different Departments, and
seeing that there was a slight but steady improvement, I advised that the
School should not be closed.
The epidemic at this time was gradually subsiding and the improved
attendance was maintained, thus showing that in this instance further
closure was not necessary.
The notification of Measles has now been in force in this District at
various times for a period of 6 vears, and the question naturally arises, has
any benefit been gained from its adoption?
I do not think there has, nor under the existing circumstances do I
think that any benefit is likely to accrue therefrom.
A glance at the Register of Infectious Diseases kept in the Office will
show you what has taken place during the year.
At first, when the epidemic started, each house affected was visited by
the Inspector or his Assistant, and various details connected with the
disease and with the sanitary condition of the house were noted in the book,
but as time went on, these inspections became less and less frequent, and
finally only the names of the patients and of the Medical Practitioners who
had notified the cases were entered. It was manifestly impossible for the
work to be properly done with the small staff at your disposal, and I think
that the greatest credit is due to your Sanitary Inspector, Mr. Smith, for the
manner in which he endeavotired to carry out his duties at this particular
time. He was additionally handicapped by losing the services of the Assistant
Inspector, and as the rest of the work in the District could not be