The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-18
TEACHERS WAGE
WAR ON MEASLES
Campaign of Education
Throughout Schools Is
Proposed.
EVERY CASE TO BE TRACED
Pupils Showing Slightest Symp-
toms to Be Rigidly
Excluded.

In an effort TO check the epidemic OF
measles running rampant through the
Richmond public schools. mass
meeting of teachers and principals was
held yesterday afternoon at the John
Marshall High School. The main floor
OF the big auditorium was well filled
with teachers Of white schools and the
gallery crowded with the coiored teach
ers. Nearly 500 cases of the disease
have been reported TO the Health De-
partnent since January /. fourteen
schoolrooms having been infected
Superintendent J. A. c. Chandler.
Chief Health officer 4. c. Levy and
School Physician -. T. Emmett were
the speakers. II was decided to be
unavoidable to close all of the schools
AZ mis- time, as with the disease already
widespread over the city. that would
the meeting yesterday was 10 put
teachers on their guard and instruct
them how the earliest symptoms Of
measles might be detected. ana sucn
pupils az once excluded:
Dr. Levy explained that epldennfcs OF
measles are recurrent every third veal,
and that the disease is spread most
generally through the gathering to-
gether of children in schools and sunday
schools. The disease. he stated, was
always constructed by direct contact,
never through clothing or other articles.
and never through the medium Of a
third person. A teacher who was I'M
ruune. he said might safely Y isit case
OF measles without danger OF carrying
the disease TO other pupils.
The eruption appears on the four
tenth day after the exposure. put
that is for five days before the eruption
appeaTs-the disease is highly con-
taeious; That Is 20 say; u VIII rot &c 90
measles to exclude d child from scnooi,
as BY the time the eruption appears
the child will have had ave days In when
10 spread contagion 70 others ne early
symptoms. Dr. Levy explained: were
cold in the head, cough and Unframed
eyes, with certain yeiioWlng spots on
the inside of the mouth
The disease. IL was explained. Is sell
dom fatal in children OF school age,
and for that reason IS sometimes mes
mortality rate with children under
four years. making 10 highly deslrapie
that the teachers should warn pupils
sent home with measles not 70 expose
Younger children in the home Young
Children in d house where there Is a
case of measles will almost certainly
caees a physician be called at once-It
will not do merely TO give the baby half
dose OF the older child's medicine
Dr. Bennett explained the plan
seboo iI authorities for keeping close
track of each case with the ala OF the
teachers. Whenever a case Is reported
to the Health Board by attending phy,
sician. a district nurse OF physician VIII
ascertain the first date of eruption. and
the school and room an the chilo at,
tends, sending a card to the Scnooi
Board at once with this information.
ALLOWING nine days from the day this
child was first exposed. the teacher will
be put on notice OF the prooaole time
when other cases may be expected. ana
will be ebnaled TO watch closely for
svmptorns of disease Printed matter
on the subject OF measles - TO oe ols-
fributed in the schools for the children
to take home and every effort viii pc
made TO meet and conquer the epidem mic
without closing down the entire school
svstern So far there has been only one
death this year from measles. but ~
was noticeable in the epidemic OF lslV
that most OF the deaths came after tne
mum her of cases was on the wdne. ana
when the contagion had been carried
from the schools to small children in the
homes.