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previously had the disease), and all children under 5 years of age
from schools, or, if necessary and desirable, the closing of an individual
class-room or class-rooms.
There is no interference by the Council's officers with treatment,
but in every case where a medical man is not already in attendance
the parents, or other persons responsible, are urged to call in a
medical practitioner, though this advice is not always taken, especially
when the parents are poor. Measles and German measles
require, as a rule, but simple medical treatment, but nursing is
important, so as to prevent, as far as possible, any of the after-consequences
arising, e.g., inflammation of the lungs, bronchitis, etc.,
and the Local Government Board have, in consequence, suggested
the advisability of Health Visitors or nurses being appointed by
Sanitary Authorities for that purpose. So important is nursing, in
the opinion of the Board, that the Board has decided—a decision
which may not be approved by all, to allow Health Visitors or nurses
who are carrying out Maternity and Child Welfare work, to be used
also for the purpose of visiting measles and German measles patients,
provided, of course, proper precautionary measures are taken to
prevent the infection being carried. Nursing is especially important
for the poorer inhabitants of the Borough in houses in which there
are children under 5 years of age, so as to prevent as far as possible
the extension of the diseases to others and the development of their
after-consequences, which are so aften dangerous and actually fatal
to life. To secure suitable nursing throughout the Borough arrangements
will have to be made by the Council for the employment
of Health Visitors or nurses permanently attached to the Public
Health Department, or to make temporary arrangements as required
with some of the well-known nursing organisations.
Typhoid Fever.
During 1916 the incidence of typhoid or enteric fever in the
Borough was small. 19 cases notified and 1 death registered ; 6 of
the cases were traced definitely to sources outside the Borough
(5 abroad and 1 at Sheerness), 3 proved not be suffering from the
disease, and 5 were secondary, i.e., derived from previous cases
unnotified and unrecognised). No case could be traced definitely
and conclusively to infected ice creams, water, milk, fried or shell
fish, or watercress, though in 2 instances there was a history of
oysters having been consumed by the patients two or three weeks
prior to their attacks.