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85
Those affected all partook of grilled chops and gravy on the day before they
became ill. The symptoms were severe diarrhoea and vomiting.
Bacteriological examination of the remains of the suspected food did not give
conclusive results, and all patients mnde a good recovery.
MEASLES AND GERMAN MEASLES.
Notification of these diseases in St. Pancras is compulsory under the Metropolitan
Boroughs of Lambeth and St. Pancras (Measles and German Measles) Regulations, 1920.
Under these Regulations all cases are notifiable bv 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.
Every case of Measles or Herman Measles which comes to the notice of this Department
is visited by a Health Visitor who gives the mother advice and help as regards the patient.
Where actual nursing is necessary for the case, this is arranged for by the Health Visitor
and carried out by the staffs of the several nursing associations. Details as to the manner
in which this work is done under a Block Grant from the Borough Council is reported 011
page 134. Where a medical practitioner is in attendance a card is left for him, suggesting
that, if he agrees that the circumstances show the desirability of a visiting nurse, this will
be carried out under his instructions on receipt of the card duly signed.
From the table on page 78 it will be seen that out of a notified total of 758 of these
diseases (measles and German measles) 250 were removed to hospital. Home nursing was
provided in 35 cases.
German Measles is generally a mild disease. There were 120 cases during the vear
1937, as compared with 78 cases during 1936. There were no deaths.
Particulars of the cases, deaths and incidence and mortality rates of Measles are given
in the following tables :—