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21
Measles.—The deaths from this disease reached the high figure of
116 during the year. This is an excess of 61 over the deaths from
the same cause in 1898, and is equivalent to a death-rate of .5 per
1000 persons living. No less than 107 of these deaths occurred under
the age of five years. The above number of deaths must, therefore,
indicate a widespread prevalence of Measles in Hackney during the year
1899. In the "School Board for London Gazette" of March 21st, 1899,
Head Teachers are requested amongst other things to bring to the
notice of the Medical Officer of Health of their districts the names and
addresses of any children excluded from school suffering either from
Measles, Whooping Cough, Chicken Pox, or Mumps, or any children
excluded because of such disease existing in their homes. I immediately
brought this action of the School Board to the notice of the
Public Health Committee, and on my suggestion it was resolved to
offer disinfection of clothing, home, etc., after the recovery of every
case of Measles and Whooping Cough thus reported by the School
Board Teachers. At the same time I was instructed to prepare a
memorandum for distribution upon the measures which should be
adopted by parents and others to prevent the spread of these diseases.
A copy of this memorandum is sent to the parent of every infected
child reported by the Board Officers.
This is the beginning of an attempt to arouse the public to a sense
of the seriousness of these diseases, and to the possibility of their
partial prevention. A copy of the Memorandum will be found in the
appendix.
Whooping Cough.—There were 47 deaths from this disease
during 1899, being just half the number registered in 1898. This is
equal to a death-rate of .2 per 1,000 living persons. The same offer of
disinfection, etc. to parents is made in this disease as in Measles, and a
similar memorandum was printed for distribution. A copy of this
will also be found in the appendix.