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MEASLES:- Two hundred and twenty-six cases were notified
in 194-7, compared with two hundred and thirty-three cases in
1946, The case rate was 2.80 per 1000 of population, compared
with 9.41 per 1000 of population for England and Wales, There
was one death of a child aged 3 years from convulsions. The
risks involved in infection by Measles are not always fully
realised. Measles weakens the resistance of the body, and
opens the way for other dangerous organisms which cause Bronchitis
or Pneumonia. Careful nursing and careful convalescence are
essential if complications are to be avoided. Children should
be protected from infection by the isolation of any suspected
case in the home. The slight primary catarrh of the nose, throat,
and eyes, together with the child becoming miserable and disinclined
for food or play should be the signal for precautions. Information
of notifications of children under five years of age are 3ent to the
Health Visitors in order that advice and help may be given where
necessary, A leaflet of advice is sent to the home of every
notified case.

WHOOPING COUGH:- One hundred and forty-nine cases were notified
in 1947, compared with one hundred and forty-three in 1946, The
case rate was 1.85 per 1000 of population, compared with 2.22 per
1000 of population for England and Wales, There was one death
of a child aged 1 month from convulsions. Mortality from
Whooping Cough falls most heavily on children under 1 year of age,
for whom the disease is always serious, and to whom immunisation
with vaccine is not applicable. The protection of young babies
is rendered very difficult in many homes by the overcrowded
conditions and lack of any room for the isolation of children
who contract infection. Some prospect of treating Whooping
Cough effectively in the early stages of the disease lies in
the perfecting of new antibiotic drugs, active against the Bacillus
Pertussis. A specific form of treatment for Whooping Cough would
save many lives and reduce the infectivity of the disease.
Immunisation by vaccine may help to raise the resistance of our
uninfected children.

IMMUNISATION AGAINST WHOOPING COUGH:- The scheme of immunisation
is restricted to children between the ages of 1 year and 5 years
of the poorer inhabitants, to weakly children, and to children
from overcrowded homes. During 1947, 209 children received
injections, making a total of 412 children treated since the
scheme was introduced in 1945, Since that date four children
of the inoculated group have contracted Whooping Cough, Two
have had severe attacks, and two mild attacks. The rate of
27,