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52
illness. The Registrar-General includes all forms of diarrhoea together
in making a comparison between different districts. From one point of
view this is useful, but it is desirable to discriminate between the acute
form and deaths due to these various causes. Although 20 deaths were
ascribed to the epidemic diarrhoea, only a few of them were rightly so
described.
Measles.—The number of cases notified was 350, 197 and 129 being
in the first and last quarters. There were 24 deaths, all but 5 being
of children under 5 years of age. The death rate for the County was
0.34 per 1,000 of population, and for the City 0.14, the average rates for
the preceding five years beiug 0.45 and 0.14 respectively.
The schools affected are shown below, Burdett Coutts', St. George's,
South Street, and St. Anne's being the most seriously invaded.
Fifty-four children were removed to the Metropolitan Asylums
Board's Hospitals for treatment.
Four hundred and fifty-three visits were paid by the women inspectors
in cases notified: advice is given verbally and printed instructions are left
at the house. Wherever necessary, the inspectors visit throughout the
illness, see that medical attendance is obtained, and that proper attention •
is given to the cleanliness of the rooms, bedding, &c. Disinfection was
carried out by the Council's staff in 132 houses.
Whooping-Cough.—Forty-eight cases only were notified (for particulars
as to schools see list below). There were 7 deaths in the City,
all of children under five years of age. The death rate was less than the
average both in the County and Westminster. Six cases were removed
for treatment by the Asylums Board.
Children suffering from whooping-cough are also visited by the
women inspectors.
Schools and Infectious Disease.
School teachers are required to notify the Medical Officer of Health
when they exclude children on account of infectious disease. The
following list shows how far this was carried out and the nature of the
cases notified:—