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the registrars as soon as the deaths are registered, which may be
many days after they occur. I do not believe we hear of a tithe
of the cases of measles; but, so far as our information extends,
such cases as we know of are visited and kept under observation.
Head teachers of schools attended by children inhabiting infected
houses are notified, and after convalesence is established disinfection
is proffered, this, however, is very often refused, but, so
far, no one has been prosecuted for failure to comply with the
law. We have had difficulties enough in past years to convince
magistrates that persons were knowingly breaking the law with
reference to a notifiable disease such as small-pox; but it would
be absolutely hopeless to enter a prosecution against a parent for
exposing the infectious clothing of a child just recovered from
measles in the public streets unless we were in a position to
legally prove that the parent was aware that his child had
suffered from measles, and, as frequently no doctor has been
called in, no medical evidence could be tendered.
The question of disinfection after measles is hedged round
with difficulties; the period of incubation is often so prolonged
that a first case may recover and cease to be infectious, whilst a
second is actually incubating the disease, which may develop
shortly after a most careful and thorough disinfection of premises
and contents.
DANIEL STREET SCHOOL.
Owing to the prevalence of measles amongst children attending
the Daniel Street Board School it was found necessary to close
class-room "B" for a period of three weeks. The room was
disinfected and kept closed for the period named, with the
desired effect.
TUBERCULAR DISEASE.
266 deaths were recorded as due to phthisis, and 135 to other
forms of tubercular disease. The deaths from diseases of this
class form nearly twelve per cent. of the total mortality from all