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in the earlier years of life is much higher than amongst
elder children. It must be confessed, however, that in
spite of all endeavours, no very successful means of
checking an epidemic of Measles has been discovered,
as all prophylactic precautions have to a very large extent
proved abortive.
IV.—PREVENTIVE MEASURES.
During the year 446 patients were admitted to the
Isolation Hospital at Beddington Corner, including
90 patients from neighbouring authorities.
The usual routine preventive and precautionary
measures have been continued as in previous years to
check the extension of infectious disease with most
satisfactory results. Isolation, disinfection and quarantine
have been carried out under the careful and
intelligent supervision of the Sanitary Staff, and
outbreaks of infectious disease have been very materially
limited.
Unrecognised cases as in previous years have been
the origin of most outbreaks, and such unrecognised
cases are always likely to exist in all diseases, especially
if the attack is a very mild type, so mild indeed are some
of these cases that the advice of a medical man is, by the
parents of the patients, considered superfluous. These,
unfortunately, are the cases which prove the nuclei of
almost every epidemic.
Immediately on notification being received of the
existence of cases of Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria, Typhoid
Fever, and Small Pox, it is the custom to offer hospital
treatment, and, if the offer is accepted, the patient is at
once removed to the Hospital; in no case should longer