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42
With a view to investigating the reasons for the Lambeth
Schools' increased mortality from Measles, [ directed special attention
to the following headings:—
1. Nature of nursing and attention given.
2. States of Health of patients before attack.
3. Conditions (sanitary or otherwise) under which the
patients lived before death.
Heading No. 1 may be dismissed at once, as the nursing arrangements
made by the Guardians under the supervision of the
Medical Superintendent are in every way satisfactory; whilst the
general condition (cleanliness and otherwise) of the Wards in
which the patients are treated, was, at the time of my visit, all
that could be wished for, and the Lambeth Schools Infirmary and
Isolation Hospital would compare favourably with any Children's
Hospital in London, or elsewhere. Indeed, I was struck with the
cleanliness and the general satisfactory surroundings of the wards,
themselves, and of the offices adjoining, showing that the Nurses
do all they can to bring their patients back to health; whilst the
buildings are so arranged that the wards are airy and light, and
are furnished in a manner to show throughout brightness and
comfort. The Medical treatment that the patients receive does
not need dealing with such patients having the advantage of a
fully-qualified Medical Superintendent who visits daily, and who
is in residence near the Schools, so that he can be called at any
time, and can be at once in attendance.
With regard to Heading No. 2, an analysis of the 11 deaths
shows, on inquiry, that the stamina of the patients, previous to
their contracting Measles, were poor, and their constitutional states
such as to render any illness, that they might contract, highly
dangerous to life. In this connection, 2 of the children are registered
as having died from tubercular disease of the lungs, in
addition to Measles ; whilst the others appear to have been constitutionally
debilitated before contracting Measles, as far as I could
gather from the nurses, and judging by several patients, who had
escaped death, and who were in the Wards at the time of my visit,
and who proved, on physical examination, to be of low vitality, the
result of rickets, want of proper attention in the early stages of
their existence, etc. The ages at the time of death of the 11
patients who succumbed are important, and may, with advantage,
be again tabulated, Thus, nine of the patients were 2 years of
age; one, 3 years; and one, 18 months. Measles and other infectious
diseases (as indeed any disease) are specially fatal to young
children under (say) 3 or 5 years.