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731
The scheme by which the Department is informed by the head
teachers of children attending the local Elementary Schools who
are suffering from measles admits of some slight preventive action
being taken against a disease which, on account of its high infectivity,
is notoriously difficult to control. Towards the end of the year the
procedure was introduced by which the Health Visitors visited the
homes of these children, immediately on receipt of a notice, primarily
with the view to advising the mother as to the precautions required
in respect of the children of under school age. Further, leaflets are
now distributed in schools where cases of Measles are reported, by
agreement with the County School Medical Officer. (See p. 712).
There is evidence that parents increasingly realise that measles,
on account of possible complications and after-consequences,
cannot be disregarded, and seek advice and treatment earlier.
Whooping Cough.— Not being notifiable, it is only possible
to surmise from the school notices that Stoke Newington had rather
more than its share of this disease. Five deaths were attributed
to it, of which four were under one year. The younger the child
the greater the risk of complicating Pneumonia and death. So
that even if all children must at some time have an attack,
serious efforts should be made to prevent the exposure of infants
to known cases. But in overcrowded dwellings, this is a counsel
of perfection.