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22
milk, and the other was a bad case of difficult labour followed by
metritis. I very much doubt if the case was septic, though it was
quite properly reported to me. I considered it necessary to suspend
one midwife. I directed her to take a long holiday in the country, to
which she agreed.
Six Women died from diseases (other than puerperal fever) due
to child-birth. As we have no record of still births it is impossible
to calculate a mortality rate.
WHOOPING COUGH.
(Deaths 93. Deceunial average 98).
The deaths from whooping cough were slightly above the
average; 85 of them were amongst young children aged less than
five years—a death rate of 4.72 per 1,000 on the estimated population
of young children.
MEASLES.
(Deaths 63. Decennial average 116).
Measles caused 63 deaths, all except two amongst young children.
The mortality from measles is in the proportion of 3.3 per 1,000 on
the estimated population of young children.
Measles is an infectious fever characterised by catarrh of the
respiratory passages and a rapidly spreading blotchy eruption. It
is almost entirely a disease of children, very few of whom escape
the infection, though the liability during the first six months of life
is not so marked. The sexes are equally affected. One attack
confers considerable protection, but not to the same extent as in cases
of scarlet fever or small pox; so that second and even third attacks
are not uncommon.
The period of incubation varies from 7 to 18 days; it is usually
about 14.
The preliminary febrile condition lasts about four days, during
which there is sneezing, running from the eyes and nose, hoarseness
and cough: in short the symptoms of an ordinary cold. On the
second or third day there is often a distinct remission of these