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48
Measles.
The number of cases of Measles notified or otherwise reported
in 1928 was 3,885 and there were 36 deaths recorded from the
disease. Of the 3,885 cases 3,381 were notified under the Regulations—The
Battersea (Measles and Whooping Cough) Regulations,
1922— and the remaining 504 cases were reported by the public
elementary schools or from other sources.
The case-mortality was 1.06 per cent. of the notified cases;
in the previous epidemic year the case-mortality was 1.28 per cent.
Special precautionary measures are taken to deal with outbreaks
of Measles. These include the home visiting of patients and their
removal to hospital where environmental conditions render this
course advisable.
Advice is also given as to the isolation of unprotected children.
The home visiting is carried out by the Health Visitors in
close co-operation with the School Nurses.
The Metropolitan Asylums (Measles) Rescission Order, 1928,
issued in August, provides that the Metropolitan Asylums (Measles)
Order, 1911, which prescribed Regulations and restrictions subject
to which patients suffering from measles might be admitted to their
Hospital shall be rescinded. The effect of the new Order is to
empower the Metropolitan Asylums Board to admit persons subject
to such arrangements as they might themselves make.
Whooping-Cough.
During 1928 there were 810 cases of Whooping-Cough notified
under the Battersea (Measles and Whooping-Cough) Regulations,
1922, to the Medical Officer of Health and 418 additional cases were
reported from the public elementary schools and other sources.
There were 14 deaths registered from this disease, the deathrate
being 0.085, as compared with 15 deaths and a death-rate of
0.09 in 1927, 13 deaths and a death-rate of 0.08 in 1926, 20 deaths
and a death-rate of 0.12 in 1925, and 17 deaths and a death-rate of
0.10 in 1924.
The total number of cases notified or otherwise reported during
1928 was 1,228 as compared with 749 in 1927, 1,210 in 1926, 1,320
in 1925, 816 in 1924 and 1,024 in 1923, the increase in 1928 compared
with 1927 being 64-0 per cent.
The disease, with measles, was made compulsorily notifiable
in Battersea, in 1922, and the precautionary measures taken against
the disease are similar to those in connection with the latter
disease, in view of the danger to life in the younger children.
TUBERCULOSIS.
During 1928 there were 301 cases of Tuberculosis (all forms)
notified in Battersea as compared with 308 in 1927, 344 in 1926
and 335 in 1925.