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59
"With our knowledge of previous epidemics it may be fairly
assumed that only two-thirds of the cases occurring were brought to
our notice. So that in the quarter the number of cases of measles must
have exceeded 3,200. There were 75 deaths from measles in the same
period. The percentage of deaths to the number of cases was 23. In
most of the cases notified the certificate was received early. On the
receipt of the notification every case was at once visited by a nurse.
This number of cases has occupied the full time of three and sometimes
four officers. It has been found that a nurse can only properly attend
and give advice as prescribed by the Ministry of Health to 15 cases
daily. At the commencement of the epidemic we had one nurse for
measles who very early fell sick and was absent for a period of seven
weeks. On my report of the extension of the epidemic and the illness
of the measles nurse, the Committee appointed at once two temporary
nurses which I supplemented with one health visitor detached from her
maternity and child welfare work. The largest number of cases notified
was on March 11th. Since then there has only been a slight decline.
The sick measles nurse returned to duty on March 6th, but we still need
for nursing measles the three nurses at the present time engaged in this
work, that is, if all the cases are to be visited and properly looked after.
Tne percentage of deaths to the total estimated number of cases during
the last epidemic was 4.5.
The staff at the present time for visiting and attending cases of
measles comprise our ordinary measles nurse and two temporary ones.
The two temporary nurses will be discharged as soon as the epidemic
shows signs of abatement or when the Council directs.
It will be seen that in the present epidemic the case mortality has
only been one half of what it was in the epidemic of 1918. There has
certainly been improved nursing in the present epidemic."
Deaths from Measles during the last ten years:—
1913 105 1918 145
1914 95 1919 19
1915 131 1920 63
1916 94 1921 6
1917 75 1922 145
The annual death-rate per 1,000 living was 0.77.
DIARRHæA.
The deaths from diarrhsea and enteritis numbered 29. The year
under consideration was distinctly favourable to infants in regard to