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by June the epidemic had ceased. The two years 1929-30 show
a total of 3,921 cases, either notified under the Regulations or otherwise
reported, and 43 deaths, giving a case-mortality rate of 1.10
per cent.
These figures may be compared with the previous epidemic
years 1927-8:—4,197 cases, 37 deaths, case-mortality 0.88 per
cent.; and 1925-6:—5,000 cases, 47 deaths, case mortality 0.94
per cent.
During the Measles epidemic of 1930 a special scheme of control
was arranged by the London County Council in co-operation with
the Medical Officers of Health of the Metropolitan Boroughs,
with a view to reducing mortality from the disease.
The scheme was applied especially to schools situated in insanitary
or overcrowded areas. In Battersea 21 schools were brought
under it, and two schools which though not actually in Battersea
are attended by large numbers of children from the Borough.
Under the scheme the Health Visitors of the Council were to work
in close co-operation with the School Nurses, who were to supply
daily to the Medical Officer of Health lists of the names and addresses
of cases of measles coming to their notice, and also the names and
addresses of absentees in affected classes or of children under 5
years of age absent from school owing to suspicious illness or for
unknown reasons. These cases were to be immediately visited by
the Health Visitor and in this way delay avoided.
The Scheme on the whole was found to work satisfactorily
in this Borough, although it was difficult to prevent a certain
amount of overlapping and unnecessary visiting. The scheme is to
receive a further trial, and modifications of its details are under
consideration.
Whooping-Cough.
During 1930 there were 399 cases of Whooping-Cough notified
under the Battersea (Measles and Whooping-Cough) Regulations,
1922, to the Medical Officer of Health and 138 additional cases were
reported from the public elementary schools and other sources.
This disease assumed epidemic prevalence in London during
1929, with a mortality rate of 2.6 per 1,000 of the population.
In 1930 the number of deaths in London fell to 131 and the mortality
rate to 0.03.
In Battersea there were 7 deaths registered from this disease,
the death-rate being 0.044 as compared with 43 deaths and a death,
rate of 0.266 in 1929, 14 deaths and a death-rate of 0.085 in 192815
deaths and a death-rate of 0.09 in 1927, and 13 deaths and a
death-rate of 0.08 in 1926.