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25
Notification of
Infectious
Diseases by
School Teachers.
In 1901 arrangements were made with the Managers
of the various Elementary Schools in the Borough
for the notification of certain infectious cases by
the School Teachers. The diseases included
under the Infectious Diseases (Notification) Act
are not placed on the list for the Teachers, as those diseases are
legally bound to be notified by the parents or medical practitioner.
The common infectious diseases, other than those which come under
Notification Act, which may assume such an epidemic form as to the
necessitate the closure of a School are Measles, Whooping Cough,
Chicken Pox and Mumps. When the School Teachers are informed
that a child is from school said to be suffering from one or other of
those diseases, a notification form is filled in and forwarded to the
Medical Officer when the matter is investigated, and advice given to
the parents as to the proper isolation of the patient.
The importance of these measures will be seen when it is
realised that during the 13 years ending December, 1903, in the
Borough of Richmond there have been 105 deaths from Measles
and 101 deaths from Whooping Cough, whereas during the same
period from Scarlet Fever—a disease which is considered by the
majority of the public to be of a more serious nature than any of
the above mentioned—there have been only 23 deaths, including the
deaths of patients from Richmond at Mogden Hospital.
The following are particulars of the Notifications from the
Schools during 1903:—