EPIDEMICS AMONG CHILDREN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 32, 1 August 1911, Page 3

EPIDEMICS AMONG CHILDREN.

To the JidiUr. Sir, —Will you allow me space to refer to yoftr sub-lender in this morning'# issue dealing with epidemics in schools. You any, "The official mind is obviously unable to grasp the point that if the schools were closed as soon as the disease made its appearance its spread would be stopped." And, a little later on, "There, are 110 two opinions about the , reasonableness of closing any school tW ha» a single case of measles." I would join issue with you in regard to both those statements, and in regard to the iir.se would say that the editorial mind in obviously unable to grasp .the ]>oint lliat if a school wore closed as soon as. disease made its appearance that' closing would 1 not necessarily mean that the spread would bo stopped. You refer specifically to the Courlcnay street school, so obviously you consider that if that school had been closed when its first ease ofJ measles was reported the epidemic would have been slopped right there. What is to be done in the event of a measles-infected child at that scluiol who haa an cider sister at the Central? Close the Central ? and' if an elder brother goes to the High School, dose that? Perhaps a brother or a sister works in town, what about theijc? Infection will not be stopped by closing down one school, or two schools, in a tovra of this size, although it might act in Tatu, or some place like thsit, whero the people are isolated, But, suppose yon close the schools here, can you prevent the children herding together for their play? Would you stop the picture matinees been use "a child has we measles., and close the Sunday Schools, too? When Mary Measles has recovered, you open the school, and Karl Kofr develops whooping cough. Cl'M- the school again? There are no two opinions, sir, of the the unreasonabloiie-s of closing any school hecau.se a child Ini* a case of mea.sles, for this 1 would interfere unduly with the education of the children, and with many of us a good education is the only thing wc are able to giv(j thein as a grounding for their future live.-. I am, etc., MOTIIKR OF TEX. Monday, .July 31, 1911. ["Mother of Ten" evidently believes that the education of her numerous land imaginary) brood is of greater moment than their health. She al c o accuses herself of inability to control her half score children. Wc admit that aU-olutely nothing can be done if parents cannot insist on the confinement of their children to the home paddock. The education children oan accumulate in three weeks or a month will make little ditl'eren?e to their after life. We certainly insist that every person whether he. goes to school or business should lie prohibited from carrying infection.—Kd.]

TARANAKI JOCKEY CLUB. To the Editor. (Sir.—ln your -report of the meeting of the above club, you mention tbat they intend to again call tenders for the publican's booth for the year. Is this to he a repetition of last year's farce? I -fail to siee why our local' club cannot conduct this matter in the straight and open way adopted by all the other clubs, viz.. putting the privilege up to auction, as at present 110 reason exists for doing otherwise.—T am. etc., A BELIEVER IN A FAIR HANDICAP.