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xii.
Chicken-pox. I do not think that the question of Chicken-pox in the
Schools is a very serious one. It is a highly infectious disease, but is seldom
fatal, and I think it is safe to assume that few cases go unrecognised. In
times of Small-pox scares, when the danger of mistakes would be greatest,
the parent seldom fails to call in a doctor at the earliest moment, and the
responsibility of dealing with it rests more on the Health Department than
on the Education Committee.
Measles. Measles is a very different matter. It is the most common
infectious disease of childhood, and I think I am correct in saying that it is
the cause of absence from the school of most of the children who are really
kept at home on account of illness. For some time Measles was included
amongst the diseases to be notified under the Act in this district, but this
has not been so during the last four years, for reasons that I need not enter
into now, but with which I entirely agree. Since, however, medical certificates
of Measles are not sent to me, the Health Department has no official means
of knowing of the existence of cases, and can neither take steps to prevent the
infection spreading, or give advice to the parent as to the treatment of the child.
Proper treatment is of great moment, for Measles is a serious complaint.
Too often it is looked upon as an inevitable incident in childhood, and one
requiring no more care than the cutting of a tooth. The proportion of cases
seen by a doctor is small compared to the total number of cases that arise.
It is important from an administrative point of view that cases of Measles
should be recognised early and excluded from the Schools, particularly in
the infant classes, and it is especially important from the child's point of
view that if he is not attended by a doctor his parent should be warned of
the necessity of careful treatment. Co-operation between the School Doctor,
the teachers and the Health Department would do much towards carrying
out both these points. I am afraid that even a perfect system of medical
inspection would not materially lessen the number of real cases of Measles
amongst the School children, but advising the parent to call in a doctor,
and informing him that it is a dangerous disease, might possibly reduce
the case mortality.
Scarlet Fever. I am not very sanguine either that, except in times
of epidemics, medical inspection would do much towards reducing the number
of cases of Scarlet Fever arising amongst the School chiidren. Indirect benefit