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17
Another case was certified as Diphtheria, but turned out
not to be a case of that disease.
Five of the 14 cases of Diphtheria, which occurred in the
month of June, were in the nursery at Fulham Road
Workhouse, the disease having been introduced by one of
the children who was frequently taken out by its mother.
The children attacked were all sent to hospital, and on
visiting the building, I ascertained that the Resident
Medical Officer was taking all necessary precautions. I
advised that a steam disinfecting apparatus be provided,
instead of the hot-air stove then on the workhouse premises.
A case which was certified as Small Pox was returned
from one of the hospitals of the Metropolitan Asylums
Board as not being a case of that disease.
In January, 1897, I submitted to you the following
Special Report on the Notification of Measles:—
"As you will no doubt remember, I made a Special
Report on this subject at the request of your Committee
of Works in May, 1892, when I came to the conclusion
that it was not expedient for the Committee to recommend
the compulsory notification of Measles, chiefly on the
ground 'that in several places where this ha3 been done
it has been afterwards abandoned, having been found to
be of little use on account of the fact that the disease is
so highly infectious before the appearance of the characteristic
rash, and also because it is found quite impracticable
to carry out the measures of isolation that are necessary
to prevent the spread of such diseases.' I then quoted
from Dr. Harvey Littlejohn's Report on 'Ten Years'
Compulsory Notification of Infectious Disease in Edinburgh,'
which Report shows that although the Town
Council 'has cheerfully paid over £3,500 for the notification
of Measles alone,' instead of diminishing, the