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9
absence was suspected to be measles, in all, about 130 of
these were received and doubtless were of much assistance in
checking the spread of the disease.
An outbreak occurred amongst the children attending the
Cottenham Park Schools in June.
On June 1st, out of a total of about 200 scholars only 60
were present. I considered it desirable to have the schools
closed for a period and disinfected; which was done; the school
remaining closed for one month.
The Local Government Board sanctioned the inclusion of
Measles in the list of notifiable infectious diseases for a limited
period, which extension came into force on June 27th last.
It is gratifying to record only two deaths from Measles
during last year, against 16 in 1897, and 9 in 1896. In 1897,
Measles was responsible for more deaths than all other infectious
diseases, viz. : Measles 16; all others 15.
In previous Annual Reports I have strongly urged the
compulsory notification of Measles, and this year's experience
shows its value.
Forty-eight cases of Erysipelas were notified, and three
deaths (all under 5 years of age), were attributed to this disease.
It is hard to see what advantage results from the requirement
of notification of these cases. I think Erysipelas might well
be struck off the list of notifiable disease.
The deaths from Diarrhoea numbered fifty-six. The age
incidence of the fatal cases was as follows: 0—1 year, fifty;
1—5 years, six. This number does not include nine deaths
from Enteritis (which is a diarrhœal disease), five of which
were of children under one year of age.
The number of deaths from Diarrhoea is higher than has
been the case for some years, and constitutes 73 per ccnt. of
the deaths from Zymotic diseases, apart from the deaths from
Erysipelas.
Diarrhœa.