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operate. When these Regulations were rescinded at the end of 1919,
the Borough Council obtained approval for the Borough of Hampstead
(Measles) Regulations, 1920, which continued in force until 1st October,
1938, when they were superseded by the County of London (Measles
and Whooping Cough) Regulations, 1938. These latter Regulations
apply, with certain modifications, Sections 192 and 193 of the Public
Health (London) Act, 1936, relating to notification of cases by medical
practitioners, to both these diseases. Such medical certificate is not
required, inter alia, where to the knowledge of the medical practitioner
measles or whooping cough as the case may be has occurred in the
house and has been notified within the two months immediately
preceding the date on which he first became aware of the disease in the
case he is attending.
It has been our practice for very many years to visit all known
cases of Measles with a view to ensuring that where necessary the
patients in suitable cases are removed to hospital, that adequate nursing
is available, or if this is not so, to arrange for nurses of the local
District Nursing Associations to attend; and also to notify head teachers
of schools attended by children in the family, etc. An advisory
leaflet is left in each case visited.
All medical practitioners were supplied with a copy of the new
Regulations and reminded of the facilities for the hospitalling of cases.
There were 845 cases of Measles during 1938, of which 132 were
removed to hospital, as compared with 90 during the previous year and
918 in 1936. There were two deaths. The Measles epidemic occurred
between the 1st November, 1937, and the 31st August, 1938, during
which period there were 940 cases with 2 deaths in children of 1 year
and 10 years respectively. The following table shews the incidence
and mortality of measles between 1st November, 1937, and 31st August,
1938:—
Ages.
Tinder
1
1-2
2 3
3-4
4-5
5-6
6-7
7-8
8-14
14 and
over.
Total
No. of cases. 29 80 70 133 132 158 102 53 94 89 940
'No. of deaths — 1 — — — — — — 1 — 2