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64
that may be reported, or with any cases of exposure of infected
persons or things.
Many persons look upon measles as a trivial disease, and therefore
take no precautions, whereas at the present time it causes a
greater mortality than any other infectious disease. Thus, in
London, in 1899, there were, according to the Report of the
Registrar-General, 398 deaths from scarlet fever, 1,946 from
diphtheria, 1,728 from whooping cough, 759 from enteric fever, and
2,141 from measles. Moreover, nearly all the deaths from measles
are in young children, who if they could be protected from it until
after the age of six years, would be much less likely to succumb to
the complaint.
We are of opinion that the placing of measles among " dangerous
infectious diseases," with the consequent warnings which would be
issued to parents during times of epidemic, would lead the public to
look more seriously upon this disease, and to take steps to avoid the
fatal complications which ensue from improper exposure and want
of care.
We would point out that Board School teachers are bound to
inform Medical Officers of Health of any case of measles or other
infectious disease among the children, and that many Church and
private schools do so voluntarily, thereby obtaining the Government
grant for such children as have to be excluded in consequence.
We find that the Vestries of the Parishes of St. George, Hanover
Square, and St. Martin-in-the-Fields, and the Board of Works for
the Strand District, passed resolutions in 1898 approving of the
course being taken which we recommend.
We beg to append copies from our past Reports, in so far as they
relate to measles.
We have the honour to be,
Mr. Chairman, Lords, and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servants,
Whooping-cough.—Whooping-cough was responsible for 1,604
deaths in London (0-35 per 1,000) and 47 in the City (0-26). Its
distribution was not quite identical with that of measles, and the
rate was above the City average in Grosvenor (0*52), Knightsbridge
W. H. Corfield, M.A., M.D., F.R.C.P.
James Edmunds, M.D., M.R.C.P.
J. J. Skegg, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P.E. )
John Norton, M.D., D.P.H. I
F. J. Allan, M.D., D.P.H., F R.S.E. j
| Medical Officers
y of Health
for the City.