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"The disease tends to spread in a class whenever a class
accumulates unprotected members to the extent of between 30
and 40 per cent.; and when spread has begun it continues
until the proportion is reduced to between 15 and 20 per cent.
unprotected."
By an "unprotected" child is meant one who has not
previously contracted the disease. Second attacks may occur,
but are rare.
With a view to affecting as little as possible the school
attendance, and at the same time protecting other scholars
from any unnecessary risks, it was considered advisable, after
consultation with Dr. Hay ward, the Medical Officer to the
Local Education Authority, to adopt the following rules: —
(1) Children actually suffering from Measles must be
cluded from school for at least one month.
(2) Children not the subjects of Measles, but coming from
houses where Measles exists, are dealt with as
follows: —
(a) Infants' Schools.—Children attending these
schools, whether they have had Measles or not,
must be excluded until the Monday following
the expiration of 14 days from the commencement
of the last case.
(b) Schools other than Infants' Schools.—Children
who have already had Measles need not be excluded.
Children who have not had Measles
must be excluded until the Monday following the
expiration of 14 days from the occurrence of the
last case.
This was subsequently approved by the Education Committee,
and its working has certainly been satisfactory during
the year.
The Infants' Department of the Haydons Road School
was closed in consequence of an outbreak of Measles from
July 16th to 23rd, the week prior to the commencement of the
summer vacation, and on re-opening no further cases were
found.
During the summer and Christmas holidays all the Public
Elementary Schools were disinfected throughout by the Staff
of the Sanitary Department.
Phthisis and other Tuberculous Diseases were the
assigned cause of the death of 58 persons, 29 males and 29
females, during the year, equal to a death-rate of one per
thousand of population. Last year there were 57 deaths and
the previous year 59.
Included in this number are seven persons formerly residents
in Wimbledon who died in the Workhouse at Kingston.
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