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measles is most fatal during the second year of life, its deathrate
subsequently declining rapidly. From the epidemic
experience of an urban district, with a population of 35,606,
in which, during the epidemic, measles was compulsorily
notifiable, this fact was again made correct. In the next
place, Dr. Thomson treats of the means for obtaining the
control of measles and the measures adopted by various
Sanitary Authorities, and states that the dual notification of
infectious diseases, now compulsory in the greater part of
England, would, if extended to measles and rigidly enforced,
furnish an unfailing source of information regarding every case
recognised as measles. But Dr. Thomson points out how this
fails in practice, on account of the non-calling in of a medical
man in a large proportion of cases of measles. He, however,
remarks that the value of the notification of measles would
doubtless be increased, if each notification were taken as
affording a clue to the detection of unrecognised or unreported
cases.
Whooping Cough.
Twenty-eight deaths were registered from this disease
during the year, five occurring in St. Margaret's Parish and
twenty three in St. John's, During 1895 thirteen deaths
occurred from this disease.
Influenza.
During the year six deaths were registered from this disease,
four occurring in St. Margaret's Parish and two in St. John's.
This is a decided decrease compared with the year 1895, when
25 deaths occurred from this disease.
Diarrhcea.
Twenth-eight deaths occurred from this disease, nine in St.
Margaret's Parish and nineteen in St. John's. During 1895
twenty-seven deaths occurred; twenty-four of the deaths
occurred in children under five years of age and most of them
during the Summer quarter of the year.
Cholera.
The district has been free from this disease during the year.
Erysipelas.
No deaths occurred from this disease during the year.