View report page

105
Included in these notifications was that of a woman aged 71 years, who died the day
after notification. There was at first some doubt about the diagnosis, which was not
completed until death had been otherwise certified.
Bacillus Newport was the causative organism.
A kind of meat cake called "Faggots" and made from pig's organs, was the article of
food suspected, but no definite evidence on this score was forthcoming.
MEASLES AND GERMAN MEASLES.
These diseases were made compulsorily notifiable throughout the country in 1916 under
the Public Health (Measles and German Measles) Regulations, 1915, but were revoked by the
Ministry of Health in 1919. The St. Pancras Borough Council were satisfied as to the value
of notification, and intimated to the Ministry the desire to continue the practice. This was
granted, and notification became compulsory under the Metropolitan Boroughs of Lambeth
and St. Pancras (Measles and German Measles) Regulations, 1920.
Under these Regulations all cases are notifiable by parents and guardians, but only the
first case occurring in an outbreak in a household or institution is notifiable by medical
practitioners, an interval of two months since the last case constituting a new outbreak. The
following details, tables and chart have been prepared by Dr. P. V. Pritchard, Deputy Medical
Officer of Health, and demonstrate several important and interesting facts about Measles.
Table I. gives the gross figures as regards incidence and deaths. These may be misleading,
and they have therefore been worked out in Table II. as Incidence and Mortality Rates. On
Table III. these calculations are expressed by two graphs.
The tendency for the disease to be prevalent in alternate years is very evident,
especially when followed graphically. The third and fourth quarters of the year are usually
comparatively free, but frequently a rise commences in December and is continued in the first,
and generally, but to a less extent, in the second quarter. The wave in December is frequently
seen just prior to an "epidemic year." The value of this knowledge is obvious. On the
warning signs of a rise, the machinery to combat an epidemic is put to work in a more
particular manner. Leaflets explaining the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of the disease
are distributed through all schools, welfare centres, and similar institutions. Much of the
time and energy of the staff is especially diverted to combat the spread, and the facilities for
nursing the cases at home are increased. In 1927 the Fever Hospitals adopted the practice of
admitting cases of Measles. Previously Scarlet Fever had the preference, almost to the
complete exclusion of Measles. During epidemic times, when there is a heavy demand for
beds, cases of Scarlet Fever are only admitted on the recommendation of the Medical Officer
of Health.
Measles is considered now to be a more serious disease than Scarlet Fever. It has a
higher Mortality Rate, and its complications are more numerous and often very serious
and crippling.
The Mortality Rate swings irregularly, but with a tendency to follow the curve of
incidence and not coincide with it.
In the 1928 Annual Report an investigation was made into the result of treatment at
home and in institutions, and the mortality of cases treated at home was shown to be
markedly less than that for cases removed either to Highgate or one of the Fever Hospitals.
There are many factors to consider in this brief statement, but it is evident that, unless home