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128
bution of handbills of advice in those streets occupied by the
poorer classes, may furnish as good results as compulsory
notification, under the present circumstances.
As instancing the serious nature of Measles and Whooping
Cough, it may be pointed out that of the cases admitted to the
Hospitals of the Metropolitan Asylums Board in 1912, 10.5 per
cent. of the Measles cases died, and 8.5 per cent. of those suffering
from Whooping Cough. While allowing that only the more
serious cases of these diseases were admitted to Hospital, it is
still noteworthy that the percentage death.rate of the cases
admitted was some 2½ times higher than it was among those
admitted with Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria..
PUERPERAL FEVER.
Under Puerperal Fever are included the deaths from Pyasmia
and Septicaemia occurring in the lying.in women. Two cases
were notified during the year. Friends and relations are often
found to be acting in the capacity of midwives, and thus the value
of the Midwives' Act, which was passed to reduce the dangers
from the practice of midwifery by unqualified persons, is materially
reduced.