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63
At the end of 1929 a scheme of control was drawn up, with the
approval of the London County Council, and the several Metropolitan
Borough Councils, with the object of reducing the mortality
and mitigating the complications associated with Measles epidemics
by the prompt removal of cases to an infectious disease hospital
or by nursing assistance in the home, according to circumstances.
The scheme of control depends for its success in the close
co-operation between the school organisation and the local Public
Health statf in securing the earliest possible information of cases ;
educating the parents to realise that Measles is a dangerous disease
by means of advice leaflets ; and by prompt removal to hospital of
those children suffering from complications and those living in
overcrowded and insanitary conditions.
Measles is not notifiable in this Borough, and information as
to cases depends on reports from the schools, parents, health visitors
and sanitary inspectors. The health visitors follow up Measles
cases in order to ascertain if adequate medical and nursing provision
is made and to arrange for nursing assistance or removal to hospital
in accordance with the scheme providing additional beds in infecious
disease hospitals for cases of Measles.
The number of cases of Measles reported to the Public Health
Department during the year was 392. of whom 55 were removed
to isolation hospitals for treatment. There were 7 deaths from
this disease as compared with 11 deaths during the epidemic of the
year 1930.
Whooping Cough.— This disease is not notifiable in the
Borough and information as to its prevalence comes to the knowledge
of the Department through the same sources as Measles.
Visiting of cases is carried out by the Health Visitors. During the
year 168 cases of the disease were noted and 12 cases were removed
from their homes for hospital treatment. There was no death
from this disease in 1931.