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29
1888 1 1901 0 1919 0
1589 25 1902 32 1920 9
1590 11 1903 0 1921 0
1891 9 1904 15 1922 5
1905 4 1923 0
1924 16
1925 0
1926 12
1927 0
1928 12
1929 0
1930 9
1931 3
1932 12
1933 1
1934 11
During the 13 years 1879-1891, measles did not show any
regular periodicity. This was followed by the 14 years
1892-1905, in which measles regularly appeared in epidemic form
every other year. Then follows a curious period of 4 years—19061909,
in which measles occurred every year. The epidemic of 1904
extended into the spring and summer of 1905 and caused 15 deaths
in 1904 and 4 in 1905. In January 1906 another epidemic started
which caused 27 deaths. In 1907 there was another outbreak in
January, February, March and April, which caused 20 deaths. In
March 1908 another epidemic occurred which prevailed during the
months of April, May and June. In November 1908, measles again
appeared in epidemic form and continued throughout the early
spring of 1909. These two epidemics caused 38 deaths in 1908 and
40 in 1909.
Since 1909 measles has for a quarter of a century almost
regularly appeared every other year.
It is difficult to explain the behaviour of measles in Acton
during the four years 1906-1909, but during the past 25 years it
has invariably followed a measles epidemic in London. Many
theories have been propounded to account for the regular periodicity
of measles. Formerly it was believed by many that an epidemic
was always due to the properties of the organism, and that the periodicity
of epidemics which occur at regular intervals depends for the
most part on the life history of the organism. It is now generally
admitted that the character of an epidemic of measles, the severity
and fatality of the disease, the speed with which it travels and the