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The matter was reported to the Chief Inspector of Factories at the Home Office and
also to the Inspector under the Alkali Acts (Ministry of Health). These departments sent
both medical and technical inspectors, and certain improvements were carried out. Numerous
complaints had by now been received from occupiers of adjoining premises, as, owing to
negligence on the part of workmen, on several occasions fumes had escaped violently and
caused a decided nuisance in the neighbourhood. It was therefore suggested it was undesirable
that such work should be carried on in a crowded district, and that an isolated site out of
London was essential for such a process. This suggestion was finally accepted, and before the
end of the year the premises were vacated and the plant removed.
MEASLES AND GERMAN MEASLES.
These diseases are compulsorily notifiable in St. Pancras under Special Regulations
sanctioned in 1920. All eases are notifiable by parents or guardians, but only the first case
occurring in a house during an outbreak is notifiable by the medical attendant. An interval of
two months since the previous case constitutes a fresh outbreak. From 1916 to 1919 inclusive
these diseases were notifiable throughout the whole of England and Wales; but at the end
of the year 1919 notification was abandoned by order of the Ministry of Health. In a few
districts, St. Pancras being one, notification was retained by means of a special local regulation.
During recent times measles has tended to be prevalent in alternate years. In 1924
no less than 4,332 cases were notified, with 74 deaths. A diminished prevalence was therefore
expected in 1925, and this anticipation proved correct, for only 1,233 cases were notified;
the disease was also of a mild type, and only three deaths occurred.
For necessitous cases, where considered necessary, a nurse was provided. During the
vear 42 cases were nursed, 325 nursing visits being paid.
German measles was unusually prevalent, especially during March, April and May;
582 cases were notified in these three months out of a total of 877 cases during the whole
year. One death occurred.