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37
was a mistake. They argue that epidemics of the zymotic
diseases can be controlled and often prevented by means
which the medical officer of health, by virtue of the powers
entrusted to him, can employ, but that no such thing as an
epidemic of puerperal fever has ever been known to occur.
(A sequence of cases in the practice of a dirty-fingered
midwife, it is argued, is not an " epidemic " in the true
sense of the word, which denotes a disease affecting a
people or community). On the other hand, the reasons
assigned for requiring the notification of puerperal fever
are, first and foremost, that it affords some opportunity of
obtaining control over " dirty persons," midwives, or others;
and secondly, that it gives an opportunity for examining
the dwelling and obtaining an order for the correction of
gross sanitary defects and overcrowding. But accepting
the legal obligation to report such cases, the addition suggested
by the Bethnal Green Vestry seems to us a good
one. We would suggest that after " peritonitis " " cellulitis"
might be inserted, and after "puerperal " where the
word first occurs, the words " or childbed." It should be
understood that the new words are explanatory and not to
be regarded as a complete definition of everything included
under the head of " the puerperal fever.''
WHOOPING COUGH.
(.Deaths 53. Decennial average 100.6.)
Whooping cough caused 53 deaths, a little over one-third of the
mortality of the previous year ; all the deaths except one were
amongst young children aged less than five years, a mortality of
29 on the estimated population of young children.
MEASLES.
(Deaths 109. Decennial average 114.2.)
Measles, which is eminently a children's disease, caused 109
deaths. All except seven were amongst children under five. In
four other instances in addition to measles, diphtheria was stated in