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93
For many years all cases coming to the knowledge of the Public
Health Department have been visited; it being felt that a good deal
could be done to lessen the fatality of an outbreak by educating the
public to a proper appreciation of the seriousness of the disease, so that
the patients may receive due care and attention.
In 1910, it was found, however, that in 165 of the 642 cases
visited, no doctor was in attendance—a striking evidence of the failure
of many of the public to appreciate that Measles is a serious disease.
Up to 1911, the only hospitals available for Measles cases were the
workhouse infirmaries, but in the February of that year the Metropolitan
Asylums Board began to provide hospital facilities. At first, admission
was only given to Poor Law patients, but later the Metropolitan
Asylums Board, on the suggestion of the Local Government Board,
agreed to receive cases of Measles other than Poor Law cases, on the
recommendation of the Medical Officer of Health of the district concerned.
This was a valuable and important step forward, for while
hospital treatment for Measles on any practicable scale cannot be
expected to exercise much effect in checking the spread of the disease, it
may do much to lessen the mortality by saving the lives of those patients
for whose recovery skilled nursing, plenty of good food and healthy
surroundings are necessary, and who are unable to obtain these
necessities in their own homes.
In 1915 another advance was made by the Local Government Board
in issuing the Public Health (Measles and German Measles) Regulations,
1915, under which cases of these diseases were made notifiable and
authority was given for the provision of medical (including nursing)
assistance for the poorer inhabitants.
In 1916 the Borough Council made arrangements with both local
nursing associations for the supply of nurses to cases of Measles, and
these arrangements have continued to date. Good nursing is allimportant
in cases of this disease, in view of the complications of
bronchitis and pneumonia, diarrhæa and convulsions. Measles is
especially fatal in rickety children. The mortality from Measles is not,
however, a complete index of the mischief wrought by it. To
the complications mentioned already as frequently fatal must be
added many ailments, such as chronic bronchitis, collapse of lung
dilatation of bronchi and pleurisy, which cause prolonged disablement
where they do not produce death. Measles is also a frequent