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died, giving a rate of 032 per 1,000, this rate was exceeded in
Charing Cross (0-34), Covent Garden (0'43), Strand (0'54), and St.
John ((>96) Wards; eight of the deaths were in children under one
year of age, 48 between one and five years of age, and three over
five years. Children are most susceptible to measles, but the
younger the child is the greater the danger. If children could be
protected from this disease until they were over five years of age
there would be a considerable saving of life. The danger is chiefly
from bronchitis and inflammation of the bowels, due to the too early
exposure of the child, under the mistaken notion that so soon as
the rash has disappeared the child has got over the complaint.
There is much need for giving the poorer classes information
and advice on the proper rearing of their children. Reckoned
according to the number of children living uuder five years of
age, the death-rate was 3-9 for London, 4*6 for the City, 1-9 for
Westminster Union, 4-9 for St. George's Union, and 7-3 for the
Strand Union.
From returns made by school teachers it appears that measles
was prevalent in May, June, and July in the north-eastern part of
the City, 230 cases-being notified, and in addition 69 children were
excluded on account of measles in their families; after that date
there were notified only 17 cases and 13 exclusions. It was probably
also prevalent in the south-western district, but the system of notification
had not been adopted fully at that time, but 45 cases were
notified in connection with two schools in April, May, and July, and
16 other children were excluded. In November and December 237
cases were notified and 161 children excluded in the south-west part
of the City. One school was closed on July 3rd until the end of the
month, when the holidays began; one infant school in October for
14 days, two in November for three weeks, and one mixed school for
14 days from 22nd November (the infant department of the same
school having been closed a week earlier). The closure, especially
just before the usual holiday period, was accompanied in most
instances by a cessation of the outbreak. The total number of cases
notified was 529, and 259 other children were excluded on account
of measles being in the house. A great many other cases no doubt
occurred.
Inclusion of Measles in the term "Dangerous and Infectious Diseased
—The County Council addressed the following communication to
the City Council in December, 1900, and it was considered early in
the year 1901:—