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18
The same difficulty was experienced during the last half
of the year by the Metropolitan Asylums Board in finding
sufficient accommodation for diphtheria patients, so that it is
satisfactory to know that a considerable proportion of the
additional accommodation now being provided is for diphtheria
patients.
Enteric Fever.—Nine cases were notified. The only death
from this disease was that of a nurse at Guy's Hospital. In
London there were 3190 notifications of this disease, and 564
deaths.
The disease in the two patients at the Workhouse, and a
nursemaid who had only lived in the District for a week at
the time of notification, was certainly not contracted in this
District.
Measles.—This disease is not usually notified, and it is
not so in this District—In 1896 there were only 11 deaths
registered from this disease. In London there were 3697
deaths from measles registered. These do not represent the
total number of deaths from measles, for from enquiries made
at the houses at which children have died, and the deaths
registered as respiratory diseases, I have found that in many
cases the respiratory disease were really caused by measles
(or whooping cough). In London, measles appears to have
been more fatal last year than in any previous year on record,
with the exception of the year 1864. With so many deaths
from measles the number of cases of this disease every year
in London must be enormous. This is not surprising, as it is
a very infectious disease; and, as a rule, not the least attempt