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31
This outbreak was the most severe of any since 1921, and resulted
in 17 deaths. During its course leaflets were distributed through the
Welfare Centres for the information of mothers and others in chafge of
children. In cases where the patients could not be adequately nursed at
home by reason of severity of the illness or the presence of complications,
admission to hospital was arranged by the department, and 52 cases were
thus removed. Many parents are inclined to take a light view of this
infection, but there is no zymotic which exerts such a baleful influence
on the health and progress of infants and young children as whooping
cough. The causal organism has not been isolated, but there is reason to
believe that it belongs to the group of ultra visible viruses among which
may be found the causes of smallpox and rabies. The poisons germinated .
by this infection affect the nervous system and induce debility of the whole
constitution. Its effects on the lungs are such that broncho-pneumonia
is frequently set up which unfortunately often ends in death.
The deaths from whooping cough during the five years are thus set
out:—

In 1925 there were seven deaths under one year, nine between the ages
of 1 and 5 years and one in a person of 65 years.
The average death rate for the five-year period at all ages was 0-05
per 1,000 and average death rate of infants under one year was 1-94 per
1,000 births. For 1925 the death rate of infants under one year was
4-5 per 1,000 births. 272 visits were paid by Health Visitors to cases
of whooping cough.
Cerebro-spinal Fever.—There were three cases, two of whom died.
The incidence in the preceding years was :—

of which the following were fatal
13 10 2