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Unfortunately, many parents consider measles a slight
ailment, and rarely seek for Medical aid, until serious
affections of the lungs set in, and cause death.
3.— Scarlet Fever.
In 1893 this disease was again epidemic in tte Metropolis,
no less than 36,901 cases having been notified to the several
Sanitary authorities, the deaths likewise were considerably
above the average. In St. Giles District there were 235
cases notified, of these 141 were treated at the various
Metropolitan Hospitals—there were 12 deaths, 8 being
children under five years of age.
The Statistical Committee of the Metropolitan Asylums'
Board state in their Annual Report; "We have again to
record a considerable increase in the number of fever and
small-pox patients admitted to the Manager's Hospitals.
In the seven years which have passed since 1886, the total
annual admissions (small-pox and fever cases) have been
6,956, 5,219, 5,777, 8,361, 7,873, 16,624, and 21,129
respectively. Whether the very high figures of the past
two years were entirely due to the effects of compulsory
notification and the increased popularity of the Manager's
Hospitals, or whether there was not a somewhat greater
prevalence of scarlet fever, diphtheria, and small-pox amongst
an increased population, we have not, owing to the comparatively
recent establishment of compulsory notification
in London, sufficient evidence to prove."
4.—Diphtheria.
The following table shows the number of deaths and
death-rates per 1,000 from diphtheria in England and Wales,
g 2