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Small-pox.
During the year 1902 there were 31 deaths from this disease, against 14 deaths in 1901.
The death rate from this disease per thousand living is ·24.
Measles.
There were 154 deaths from measles during 1902, giving a rate of 1.l9 per thousand
living. This is double what it was in 1901 and nearly so for the last ten years average. The
deaths occurred in the quarters as follow: — 4, 32, 27, and 91. It will thus be seen that by far
the largest number of deaths occurred in the fourth quarter, the next highest being the second
and third. Assuming that the death rate was similar to that of a previous epidemic in Glasgow,
there were probably at least 1591 cases in the district. We received notice from the schools of 671
cases. If these were all the cases in the district it would make a case mortality of 22.9 per cent.
Measles, unfortunately, has been regarded by the parents as a trivial complaint, but, as the
following Table F shows, it certainly cannot be regarded as such during the first five years of
life:—
Table F.—Measles.
COMPLICATIONS.
Uncomplicated.
Broncho-
Pneumonia.
Bronchitis.
Whooping
Cough
Laryngitis.
Empyema.
Meningitis.
Phthisis.
Tabes
Mesenterica.
Convulsions.
Diphtheria.
Coma.
Pharyngitis.
Totals.
Age Period.
Under 1
3
17
4
nil
nil
nil
1
1
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
26
1—2
3
46
8
1
1
1
nil
nil
1
2
nil
1
1
65
2—3
nil
29
5
1
1
nil
nil
1
nil
nil
1
nil
nil
38
3—4
1
10
4
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
15
4—5
nil
5
1
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
6
Under 5
7
107
22
2
2
1
1
2
1
2
1
1
1
150
5—10
1
2
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
3
10—15
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
15—20
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
20—25
nil
1
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
1
All Ages
8
110
22
2
2
1
1
2
1
2
1
1
1
154
The number of deaths due to uncomplicated measles is comparatively small, but in
children under 5 the absence of complications is rather an exception. It will be seen that the
largest number died from lung complications. I am inclined, however, to believe that the
number of deaths under the complication of phthisis is under-estimated. It is the opinion
of competent authorities that a large number of the cases of broncho-pneumonia following
measles are tubercular.
Whooping Cough.
There have been 64 deaths from this cause, which is an excess of 8 over the number in
1901. Epidemics of measles are frequently followed by epidemics of whooping cough, and, like
measles, it is a disease which kills through its complications, as the following table shows:-
Table G. —Whooping Cough.
Complications.
Age Periods.
Uncomplicated.
Totals.
Pneumonia.
Bronchitis.
Measles.
Convulsions.
Marasmus.
Rickets.
Under 1
nil
3
11
6
8
nil
nil
28
1-2
2
17
4
1
nil
1
1
26
2-3
1
1
nil
2
nil
nil
nil
4
3-4
2
3
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
5
4-5
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
3
32
10
8
1
Under 5
8
1
63
nil
nil
15-20
nil
nil
1
nil
1
nil
1
All ages
8
32
10
3
9
64
1
The most fatal age for whooping cough is within the first two years of life, and pulmonary
complications are the most frequent causes of death.
7