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50
Measles.
Eleven deaths were recorded from this disease, as compared with
14 in 1911.
The mortality was 0.13 per 1000 population, the mortality in 1911
being 0.16.
Measles is now included among the dangerous infectious diseases,
to which Sections 60-65, 68-70, and 72-74 of the Public Health
(London) Act, 1891, apply. These sections extend the provisionsrelating
to isolation and disinfection to measles, but they do not make
the disease compulsorily notifiable.
But although measles is not a notifiable disease, many cases are
reported by school teachers, parents and others. During the year 1912
429 cases were reported, as compared with 415 in 1911.
The Local Government Board, in 1911, authorised the Metropolitan
Asylums Board to receive cases of measles other than Poor Law cases,
on the recommendation of the Medical Officer of Health. Previous to
1911, the only hospitals open to patients suffering from measles were
the workhouse infirmaries, but in February, 1911, Poor Law patients
were admitted to the Asylums Board hospitals, which later became
available for other patients. Hospital treatment for measles on any
practicable scale cannot be expected to exercise much effect in checking
the spread of the disease, but it may do much to lessen the mortality by
saving the lives of those patients for whose recovery skilled nursing,
plenty of good food and healthy surrounding, are necessary, and who
are unable to obtain these necessities in their own homes. The number
of Hampstead patients removed to the Board's hospitals during the
year was 55.
Most of the cases of Measles are reported to the Medical Officer of
Health, principally by School teachers, and the following is a list of
the sources of information:—