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orders, which the Borough Council did for the year 1920, as they considered that notification
was a useful adjunct to their measles work.
The cost to the Council for measles notification fees for the past seven years is as
follows:—1917, £147 19s.; 1918, £91 4s.; 1919, £74 5s.; 1920, £99 2s.; 1921, £54 8s.;
1922, £253 15s.; 1923, £108 l1s.; or on an average of £118 9s. per annum. From April,
1922, the expense of nursing in necessitous cases was undertaken by the Council, which had
previously been paid for out of voluntary funds. The cost of this during 1922 was
£185 16s. 6d , and in 1923 was £59 2s. There is at present a severe epidemic of measles
prevailing, and the expenditure already, for a period of three months, is over £330, which
includes notification and nursing fees.
In considering this matter, it has been urged that measles is a dangerous disease, its
mortality amongst children being greater than the mortality from all other infectious diseases
put together, and notification does tend to impress upon the public the importance of taking
the greatest care in nursing measles. On the other hand, statistics show that the death rate
from measles in the non-notifiable years is very little larger than in the notifiable years.
We recommend—
That the compulsory notification of measles be continued.
Clerical Staff', Public Health Department.
11.—In 1914, the male permanent clerical staff consisted of a Chief Clerk and seven
other clerks, and at the present time there is the same number, but three of them are temporary
clerks. These are Mr. L. Higgins, 41 years of age, who has been temporarily engaged
since October, 1919; Mr. J. B. Richards, 62 years of age, who has been in this Department
since 1923; but has been in the temporary service of different departments of the Council since
November, 1914; and Mr. J. Brooks, 24 years of age, who has been temporarily engaged since
24th January, 1924.
In addition to the above, the Department has also the part services of Mr. G. N. Cove,
a permanent clerk, who is attached to the Estates Department, which has the first claim on his
time. It follows that any development of the Council's housing schemes, e.g., Somers Town,
would probably result in the whole of his services being required for housing work.
The Health Department also has the temporary services of Mr. H. G. West as Milk
Enquiry officer, and should at any time the milk scheme be abandoned, his services would no
longer be required, and it is desirable that his appointment should remain a temporary one.
There are two women clerks working with the Women Inspectors and Health Visitors:—
Miss A Andrews (permanent), and Miss G. Wood (temporary). The Medical Officer of Health
considers that the retention of Miss Andrews will be adequate at present for the needs of the
women's department, so that the services of the temporary clerk can be dispensed with.
With regard to the three male temporary clerks, we are satisfied that, for the necessities
of the Department, three clerks are required. As far back as October, 1920, the Public Health
Committee recommended the permanent appointment of Mr. L. Higgins, who is a very competent
clerk, and we think this recommendation should be sent forward again. In reference to
Mr. J. B. Richards, we feel that, as he is 62 years of age and has already been for ten years in
the temporary service of the Council, he should be retained; but as soon as a temporary position
in another Department is available, he should be transferred, and then a permanent j unior clerk
appointed in his place. As regards Mr. J. Brooks, who has been engaged temporarily for
three months, we consider that his services should be replaced by the appointment of a
permanent junior clerk. We further consider that the services of Miss G. Wood should now
be dispensed with.
We recommend accordingly.