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72
Measles presents a problem bristling with difficulties. Attempts to
diminish its prevalence appear to be doomed to failure, therefore more
attention must be directed to the treatment of the patient, and removal
to hospital is strongly recommended. The special investigations of
Dr. Thursfield into the causes of death in measles furnishes additional
evidence in support of this opinion, which is also held by practical
medical men, that better results may be obtained by greater attention
to the mouth and pharynx during the height of the disease.
Dr. Newsholme in his report says:—The position with regard to
measles is very unsatisfactory. Little can be done to diminish the
attack-rate, therefore it is urged that more help should be given to the
poorer patients in order to diminish the mortality. In the schools of
Manchester inquiries have shown that of children entering the school
at the age of five no fewer than 75 per cent. have already been infected,
so that susceptibility is even higher than in the case of whooping-cough,
where the figure was 38 per cent. Notification has hitherto proved of
very little value, and some authorities which have added measles to the
list of notifiable diseases have petitioned to have it removed. The
medical officer points out that notification must be valueless, unless
during epidemic periods the local authorities take the advice tendered
by the Board, and provide additional assistance, medical or otherwise.
He defends the practice—often adversely criticized—of allowing
children from infected households to attend school, provided they are
not in the infant standards. The Metropolitan Asylums Board have
admitted during the year 4,314 patients with measles to their hospitals,
the mortality rate being 9'6 per cent., owing to the serious nature of
the cases admitted.