The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-17
MEASLES RAGING
IN CITY SCHOOLS
Meeting of White Teachers and
Principals Called for
This Afternoon.
463 CASES IN TWO WEEKS
Five Days of Contagion Be-
fore Eruption Appears,
Says DR.. Levy.

Teachers and principals of all of the
white public schools of Richmond are
called to meet at the John Marshall
High School this afternoon at 30
O'Clock TO consider plans for checking
the epidemic Of measles now sweeping
through the schools Teachers and
principals of private white schools
throughout the city are invited 10 at
tend Addresses Will be made by
Superintendent J. \. {. Chandler,
Chief Health officer L. c. Levy and
others.
No General Closing.
Although the situation Is serious. 1T
is not anticipated that there Will be
any movement for general closing OF
the schools. for u Ii feared that that
would not reach the trouble. The
schools closed for ten days at Christ
mas but the sources of infection were
already we'll scattered over the city.
and the disease spread rapidly soon
after the schools roopened.
total of 463 cases of measles have
been reported to the health authorities
since January /, eighty nine cases
having been reported last Monday.
seventy-fvc on Tuesday, and a large
number each day since. Up TO this
time there has been but one death
From experience in the past 1t would
seem that the disease is not particu-
iarly dangerous to children OF schooi
age. but u spreads with rcmarkab Die
rapidity through the schools. and
these children take II home. where the
mortality among very young children
is often very high. Literature is TO be
spread through the schools informing
parcnts that measles is by no means
the Joke that some parents seem 10
feel il. but that where there are children
under four years old in the house. II Is
a most serious matter, calling for the
immediate attention of the family
physician.
No Assembly or Recess.
Sunerintendent Chandler issued
orders yesterday that until further
notice the midday recess when chill
dren of all grades mix m the school
wards. is TO be discontinued. Each
class room is to be run as a separate
school There will be no Assem- bly,
no general gathering of the pupils in d
large room, and separate hours will be
arranged for the intervals of play for
different grades. The new schedule
eliminating Assem- bly, work and chang
ing the recess hours will take effect on
Monday throughout the city. and be in
effect until further notice. The whole
medical force of the schools. the five
school nurses, and all of the district
physicians are to devote their energies
10 stamping measles from the schools
as soon as possible
High Risk OF ContagIon.
Il do not think II would accom- plish
our PURPOSE to close all of the schools
for a week or even for a longer period.
said Chief Health Officer Levy last
night In 1910. when there was an
epidemic of measles. we closed d num-
Der of rooms where measles appeared.
II is well established that child who
has been exposed to measles is capable
of spreading the infection from the
ninth TO the fourteenth day, though the
eruption does not appear until the four
teenth day That gives FIVE days for
spreading the disease before il is even
recognized that the child is unwell. We
have closed four schoolrooms so far
during this epidemic. 1t Is our desire
and that Of the school authorities TO
give every proper measure of protection
without disruptlng the schools. We want
the teachers to be acquainted with the
nature of the contagion before the
eruption appears, so that suspicious
cases may be at once sent from the
schools Whenever d case is reported
10 the Health Board. We are notifying
the school authorities at once of the
name of the child, the school and room.
so that the teacher may watch other
pupils for early symptoms.
Must Warn Parents.
The actual deaths from measles arc
rsualIv in the hoInee-little children too
Young to go to school. but who take the
contagion from brothers or sisters
want the tcdCheis 10 Ten pupie sem
home that they must not associate
with younger children. and spread the
disease among the little ones. where
the danger is much greater than with
pupils of school age. Medical Inspcc-
tor Hudson and the Health Depart
uent nurses are attempting 10 visit all
cases reported. and warn the parents of
the high risk. II Is . curious thing that
We seem to have an epidemic Of measles
every third year Indeed II was pre-
dic;ed last ycar that this would be 4
measles year. and the prediction has
more { nan come true