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cases one was subsequently discharged from hospital as not suffering
from this disease. There was a history of fish having been consumed
in 2 cases, ice cream in 1 case, 2 cases came from abroad, 2 were nurses
attending on cases of typhoid, and in 3 cases there was no history
ascertainable. There were 2 deaths. The death-rate of this disease,
both for England and Wales and for Westminster, was 0.01. The case
rate for England and Wales was 0.07 and for Westminster 0.07.
Measles.—The following table shows the number of cases notified
by head teachers of schools, the Metropolitan Asylums Board, hospitals
and private practitioners during the last five years
1922. 1923. 1924. 1925. 1926.
591 131 852 117 1026
This disease again assumed epidemic form at the beginning of 1926,
and 1,026 cases were notified to the department. Of these, 934 cases
occurred in the first quarter of the year, with a resulting death-roll for
the quarter of 14. The epidemic seems to have ceased its ravages as
the year went on—78 cases occurring in the second quarter with
9 deaths, 10 cases in the third quarter with 1 death, and 4 cases in the
last quarter with no death. The total deaths for the year were 24—
12 males and 12 females, and 13 out of this total were children under
2 years of age. The death-rate for England and Wales per 1,000
population was 0.09, for London 0.20, and for Westminster 0.17. Of
the above 24 deaths, 14 occurred in hospitals and 10 at home. 99 cases
were removed to hospital. There is now no reason why children
suffering from measles, in whose surroundings there are present any
elements which would militate against their recovery, should not be
removed to hospital, the Metropolitan Asylums Board having agreed
to receive cases of measles into their hospitals in greater numbers than
before, even to the extent of giving these cases preference over scarlet
fever cases. This fact, coupled with the nursing facilities offered by
the Council, should go far towards lowering the mortality from this
disease.