Dr. Theodore Thomson's report to the Local Government Board on epidemic measles in the borough of Lancaster.

  • Thomson, Theodore
Date:
1898
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Dr. Theodore Thomson's report to the Local Government Board on epidemic measles in the borough of Lancaster. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    closed until January lltli. It must be borne in mind, however, that any good results that might be looked for from public elementary schools remaining closed during this period would be apt to be neutralised ; firstly, by the Sunday schools remaining open, and, secondly, by the numerous re-unions of children that are wont to take place at the Christmas season. The disease, as shown in the figures given above, continued to increase rapidly during January, and, accordingly, on February 4th, all public elementary schools in the borough, save tAvo, were closed at the instance of the Sanitary Authority, and they remained closed until April 5th. The two public elementary schools that were not closed are situated in a small part of Lancaster lying to the north- of the river that flows through the town, a neighbourhood vrhich was, at this time, almost free from measles. As already stated, two or three small private schools closed about this time : but no Sunday schools were closed. Three weeks after closure of the public elementary schools a marked decrease ensued in rhe amount of measles in the district, a decrease which continued until the week ending April 22nd, when, as well as in the four following weeks, there was again some increase. It is noteworthy that this recrudescence of the disease occurred some two weeks after the re-opening of the public elementary schools. It was not, however, a long sustained increase : and measles diminished again during June and July, possibly owing to the adverse seasonal infllience believed to be exerted on the disease about this time of year. By mid-July it had ceased to be regarded as epidemic. The marked decrease noted as having occurred within three weeks of the closure of schools on Februai’y 4th, tends to suggestion that this measure had a repressive influence on the course of the epidemic : while its recrudescence within a fortnight of their re-opening, though comparatively slight, is consistent with facilities having been afforded by schools for further propagation of measles. I append here certain figures, based on data furnished to me by Mr. F. W. Smith, the Inspector of Nuisances of the Borough of Lancaster, which indicate, to some extent, the influence of schools in serving to spread measles among the community. The 1,185 cases of measles, that are known to have occurred betAA''een December 5th and July 15th, are dnfided into four categories, viz. : Class A.—Children attending a public elementary school. Class B.—Children attending a private school. Class C.—Children, not themselves attending school, but belonging to a family of which members attend school. Class D.—Children not attending school, nor belonging to a family of which any member attends school. The numbers of attacks in each of these four classes of children are given week by week, from the week ending December 10th, 1896, to the week ending July 15th, 1897, as follows :— Week ending Class A. Children at¬ tending P.E. school. Class B. Children at¬ tending private school. Class C. Children having relatives at school. Class D. Children en¬ tirely uncon¬ nected with school. Total. December 10 ... — — — 1 1 fi 17. 2 — — — 2 D 21. ... 1 — — 2 3 81. 12 2 — 14 J anuary 7. 18 — 1 — 14 •5 14 ... 57 O 7 6 72 21. ... 41 1 19 9 70 28. 77 — 15 16 107 Febrnary 4. 91 15 6 112 J) 11. 65 44 29 138 18. ... 53 87 26 116 ?} 25. 56 8 32 32 123 ^Tarcb 4. 16 1 .30 14 61 11. ... 13 1 2.3 17 54 1 r 18. 8 8 17 7 40 25. 6 7 15 5 33 December 10—March 25 511 28 267 169 960
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