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11
Deaths from A ir Raids.
There has been a marked increase in the deaths from
Measles, Whooping Cough, Diphtheria, and Scarlet Fever, and
this shows that there must have been an increased prevalence,
which is confirmed by the notifications of the diseases which are
notifiable.
Of course we know that all infectious diseases are liable to
a rise and fall, but making due allowance for all these things I
cannot help thinking that part of the rise is due to the herding
together of men, women and children during and in anticipation
of Air Raids. 1 know of two cases of diphtheria which were
started in this way, and on one or two nights 1 was present in
the Town Hall, and found several cases of whooping cough
among those who took shelter.
Special inquiries were made as to attacks of pneumonia and
measles, etc., and in many cases their onset was attributed to
infection got in the shelters or the taking of young children
from their warm beds in the middle of the night to go away to a
shelter. It is very difficult, however, to know what to recommend
on these occasions, for although the chances of any particular
house being hit are extremely small, still unfortunately a
great part of the damage in London fell upon small property, and
those who witnessed the destruction occasioned by enemy bombs
were little disposed to be influenced by the ordinary laws of
probability, and made up their minds to run the risks of bombing
in a more substantial building than their small houses.
II.—NOTIFICATION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
In Table V. of Appendix will be found particulars of infectious
diseases notified during the year under report.
The number of cases notified, exclusive of notifications of
tuberculosis, which numbered 567 was 1,885, compared with 935
in 1916 and 030 in 1015. All the diseases show a decrease on the
number for the previous year, with the exception of diphtheria,
scarlet fever and puerperal fever, which show an increase
of 159, 48, and 2 respectively.
The attack per thousand inhabitants was 17.5, against 8.2
for 1016.