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The deaths in London from this cause in 1896 were 3,607,
and 938 above the corrected decennial average (2,759). These
deaths were equal to a rate of 0.82 per 1000 as compared with
0'61, the decennial average. In the preceding two years the
deaths had numbered 3,293 and 2,633.
Should Measles be Notified ?—The question whether
measles should be made a notifiable disease under Section 55
of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, was again raised
during the course of the epidemic, by persons who naturally
thought, or hoped, that publication of sickness returns might
lead to reduction in the fatality of the disease. I dealt with
this subject fully in my report for 1891 (pages 97-106), and,
without repeating the arguments then employed, it will suffice
here to say, that I have seen no reason to modify the conclusion
at which I then arrived, viz., " that it would be of little or no
use to have notification of measles unless hospital accommodation
were provided on a large scale for the use of the sufferers
therefrom," and of this there is no present prospect.
SCARLET FEVER.
The cases notified as scarlet fever were 1,011, against 957,
390, and 525, in the preceding three years successively; 706 in
North Kensington and 305 in South Kensington. The deaths
were 39, against 51, 22, and 27, in the preceding three years,
and ten above the corrected decennial average. Thirty-six of
the deaths belong to the Town sub-district and three to
Brompton. Twenty-seven of the deaths were of children under
five years of age including one under one year. Ten deaths
occurred between the ages of 5 and 15, and two between 15
and 25. Thirty-two of the deaths took place at outlying
public institutions, to which 763 cases were removed, and seven
at the homes of the sufferers. The case-mortality was 3 9 per
cent. (against 5.l in 1895), viz., 2.8 per cent. in home cases,
and 4 2 per cent. in hospital cases.