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57
zero to thousands. I take 1896, the year of maximum fatality during
the past decennium, for an illustration.
During the first four-weekly period there were only three deaths.
In the second, the number rose to 17; in the following five periods
there were 20, 32, 45, 24, and 19 respectively: total, 157 in 24 weeks.
During the remainder of the year only thirteen deaths were registered,
including seven in the eighth four-weekly period.
The case-mortality of measles may he taken at, say, 4 per cent.*
On this basis there were some 3,925 cases of the disease in 24 weeks,
and 400 in 28 weeks.
The greatest number of deaths was in the fifth four-weekly
period —45, corresponding to some 1,125 eases.
It must be obvious that disinfection —if it could be carried out
universally, would, with so many eases in so short a period, involve
a heavy strain; probably, however, by far the greater proportion of
the cases would remain unknown.
Heads of families too often make light of measles and rarely
seek the help of the sanitary authority. What will happen consequent
to the steps taken by the County Council in making known the
provisions of the Order remains to be seen.
With a view to arrive at an approximate estimate of cases, I
have studied the subject in the light of the mortal statistics
for 1902.
The deaths were 93 (11 above the corrected decennial average):
86 in the first half-year, 7 in the second. They occurred ill 92 houses.
Seventy-seven of the deaths belonged to North Kensington ; in
St. Charles Ward, 26; Golborne, 13; Norland, 25; Pembridge, 13 ;
and 16 to South Kensington; in Holland Ward, 6 ; Earl's Court, 1;
Queen's Gate, I; Redcliffe, 5; Brompton, 3.
The deaths were spread over 61 streets; there was one in each
of 40 streets ; there were two each in 13 streets, viz. : —Albion-place,
Bomore-road, Blenheim-crescent, Clarendon-road, Finborough-road,
Fowell-street, St. George's-road, Kenley-street, Lancaster-road,
Latimer-road, Portland-road, Testerton-street, and Western-terrace;
three each in two streets- Appleford-road and Peel-street (two of
these in Campden-houses) ; four in each of tour streets, viz., Hurstway-street,
Southam-street, Snarsgate-street and Treverton-street;
five in one street, Walmer-road.
In nine cases only was measles alone the certified cause of
death : the fatal end was usually brought about by some intercurrent
disease —of the respiratory system in 66 cases; the nervous
system in 5; both systems in 11 ; diarrhoea in 1.
* As will be shown later, the case-mortality at Edinburgh in ten years 1880-81»
(30,000 cases) was only 3.1 per cent.