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34 WHOOPING COUGH.
While the epidemics in the different parts of the Metropolis are not exactly synchronous,
they are sufficiently so to result in fairly long periods of practical freedom from the disease,
interspersed with comparatively short periods with large numbers of attacks.
No definite information has ever been obtained of the total number of attacks in any
community, but as a guide to the probable requirements of this Borough at least, the returns
included in these Annual Reports are, from the character of their sources, sufficiently complete.
It may safely be said that the cases reported by the elementary schools occur in homes which
make hospital treatment desirable for the public good and the patients' welfare. Assuming
that to be the case, the patients to be provided for may be said to have numbered not less
than 900 in 1903 and 1904, and 1,700 in 1905. How long treatment would last cannot be
stated, but a duration of one month may be hazarded as a guess. To meet the maximum
demand it would seem that 300 beds (taking the second quarter of last year as a standard)
would require to be kept in constant readiness, as the short duration of pressure would not
permit of emergency provision. On the other hand, during the third quarter of 1904 only
'18 cases were reported. It is believed that the action of the Department has to some extent
imposed limits on the spread of infection, and consequently even larger numbers may be
expected from districts where no official steps are taken. It will be seen that what is here
stated means a provision of accommodation on a much greater scale than has hitherto been
contemplated.
A further consideration is the large proportion of young children among the patients, a
fact which implies a specially large staff of nurses.
The foregoing observations may be summed up thus:—
That while it is admitted that a proportion of the deaths and of the subsequent
ill-health of survivors would be prevented and obviated by hospital treatment, the provision
of such treatment would be so expensive, both on capital and revenue accounts, and the
result qua prevention so doubtful, that it does not appear to be advisable to impose such
provision on the rates. It is believed that by continued official action it will ultimately be
possible to produce a change in the age-incidence of attack, and, if that be accomplished, the
results as regards saving of life and prevention of after ill-health obtainable by treatment in
hospital may make the provision of such accommodation not only desirable but even
absolute!}' necessary.
WHOOPING COUGH.
Last year 540 cases were reported to the Department, as compared with 19G in 1904 and
533 in 1903. The numbers of cases investigated in each quarter of last year are set out
below :—