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44
very naturally were inclined to think that the disease therefore
was of a very trifling character, whereas all public health
administrators have realised for some time the very dangerous
character of this illness, and this is amply borne out by our own
statistics, for we see that during the past year there have been
more deaths from Measles alone than Small-pox, Scarlet Fever,
Diphtheria, Typhoid Fever and Puerperal Fever all put together.
The only defect, to my mind, is that the whole procedure of the
Public Health Act Notification Clauses are not made applicable
to this disease, and as medical men are not at present bound to
notify these cases, it tends at times to cause a little feeling of
resentment in the matter, although this is generally removed
when the matter is fully explained, yet I think the whole administrative
procedure would work more smoothly if Section 55 of the
Public Health (London) Act, 1891, were made applicable to this
disease in the same way as the other infectious diseases. I am
bound to admit that the expense occasioned thereby would be
somewhat considerable, but I think that if the information is
worth having, as I believe all Authorities will admit that it is, then
surely it is worth paying for in the usual way.
The infant departments of several schools were closed for
varying periods during the year on account of this disease, and I
am still of opinion that the aggregation of such young children as
are frequently found in attendance at the infant department of
schools is almost criminal, as these young children are thereby
very frequently exposed to infection from this and other diseases
which it is a well known fact are specially fatal at these early ages,
and I think that if children were not admitted to school until they
were at least 6 years of age, instead of as at present time, 3 years