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138
MEASLES.
One hundred and thirty seven cases were reported
as due to measles, against 293 cases in the previous
year. Twenty seven cases were not reported until after
death, and in 110 cases the patients were suffering from
the disease at the time when the information was
received. Twenty seven deaths were registered. As
this is not a notifiable disease it is of no use my giving
the mortality rate on the cases reported as, no doubt,
only a very small proportion of the cases which occurred
were known of by me.
NOTIFICATION OF MEASLES.
The London County Council had under consideration
the question of the notification of measles,
but did not decide to bring the disease under the Notification
Clause of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891.
It was decided, however, that the whole of the other
provisions of the Act appertaining to a dangerous
infectious disease should be made to apply to measles.
It is clear that if it is necessary that the law appertaining
to a dangerous infectious disease should be
applied to measles it is of the first importance that the
disease should be made notifiable, so that the law can
be put into force.As it at present stands, notwithstanding
the action of the London County Council, the
law on the subject is practically inoperative. From the
whole of the notifiable infectious diseases that occurred
to the Burgesses in the Borough there were only
a total of 48 deaths, whereas from measles alone
there were 27 deaths. Judging from the total results,
measles was the most dangerous infectious disease
affecting the public health of the Borough. I have no
hesitation in repeating my opinion that it is highly
important that this disease be made notifiable. The
disease is sure to be made notifiable eventually. The
delay is due to the fact that the preconceived notions