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highly-skilled observer, and consequently in the great majority of cases
measures of isolation are not adopted until the patient has been spreading
infection for three days. For these reasons comparatively little can be
done under present conditions to check the spread of measles. But a
good deal can be done to lessen the fatality of an outbreak by educating
the public to a proper appreciation of the seriousness of the disease, so
that the patients may receive due care and attention. For this purpose
health-visiting is of great value. All the cases reported in 1910 were
visited by the lady inspectors, who gave instruction to the mothers in
the precautions to be observed in nursing the patients. That these
measures are needed is apparent from the fact that in 165 of the cases
visited no doctor was in attendance on the patient, which is striking
evidence of the failure of many of the public to appreciate that measles
is a serious disease.
Hospital accommodation is badly needed for patients in the poorer
districts for whom proper treatment is not available in their own homes.
Up to the present year (1911) the only hospitals open to these patients
were the workhouse infirmaries, but since February, 1911, hospital
accommodation for measles cases has been provided by the Metropolitan
Asylums Board. At first admission was only given to Poor Law patients,
but later the Board, on the suggestion of the Local Government Board,
agreed to receive cases of measles other than Poor Law cases, on the
recommendation of the Medical Officer of Health of the district
concerned. Hospital treatment for measles on any practicable scale cannot
be expected to exercise much effect in checking the spread of the
disease, but it may do much to lessen the mortality by saving the lives
of those patients for whose recovery skilled nursing, plenty of good food
and healthy surroundings are necessary, and who are unable to obtain
these necessities in their own homes.
Whooping Cough.
There were 11 deaths from this disease in 1910, as compared with
18 in 1909 and 5 in 1908. The mortality per 1000 population was
0.11. Like measles, whooping cough tends to become complicated by
pneumonia, and the patients require to be carefully looked after, but
unfortunately it is popularly regarded as a disease of slight importance.
Hospital treatment is much needed in certain cases of whooping
cough, and the Metropolitan Asylums Board now provide hospital
accommodation for patients admitted through the Poor Law,