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48
WHOOPING COUGH AND MEASLES.
During 1896, 140 and 185 deaths were registered from
whooping cough and measles respectively, as compared
with 132 and 151 during 1895, and annual averages of 165.2
and 150 9 for the last 10 years (1886-95) in Lambeth.
In London, during 1896, there were registered 2,931 and
3,692 deaths from whooping cough and measles, giving
corresponding death-rates of 6.6 and 8.4 per 10,000 of the
population living.
In Lambeth, it will be seen that nearly half of the total
zymotic mortality was, during 1896, due to measles and
whooping cough together, and recognising this large
mortality from diseases that are not notified, the question
has often been raised as to whether or not these diseases
ought to be notified, and the cases isolated ?
Many Health Officers are strongly of opinion that
Measles should be included in the list of Notifiable Diseases,
and that united action should be taken by the various
Sanitary Authorities in London, so as to bring pressure to
bear on the Local Government Board with a view to
this being done. As Medical Officer for Lambeth I have
carefully considered the subject, and am of opinion
that, at present, at least, the inclusion of Measles in the list
of Notifiable Diseases is not desirable. The whole question
becomes one of expense, for it is practically agreed by all
that notification in itself would be useless unless followed
by isolation and disinfection. The Metropolis does not,
at present, possess hospital isolation for Measles, and even
if such accommodation were provided there would still
be the difficulty of the very young ages of the patients
who would have to be isolated, and the consequent dislike
and the refusal of the parents to part with their children at