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42
MEASLES.
There were 26 deaths noted, compared with 12, 48 and 15 in 1914-13-12.
This number of deaths is equal to a death-rate from measles of 0.37 yer 1,000
living, compared with 0.18 last year. 6 occurred in the first-age period (under
1 year) 8 in the second-age (1 and under 2 years), 8 in the third-age (2 and
under 5 years), and 4 over 5 years of age. All occurred in the first 5 months of
the year, 15 of them in April. 5 deaths also amongst Belgian children.
The Urban District of Greenford, after 7 years' experience, in 1913
discontinued compulsory notifications as the results were disappointing, and
notifications from school teachers resorted to instead. The population of this
village was then estimated at 1,245.
During the Whitsuntide vacation, Houndsfield, Eldon and Montagu Road
schools were specially disinfected.
MEASLES REGULATIONS, 1915.
In April, I submitted a circular letter, dated 31st Match, from the Local
Government Board, advising my Council to adopt the compulsory notification
of Measles, Rubeola, (formerly called German measles or rotheln) and Whooping
Cough. The first case in a household was to be notified by a doctor (if one was in
attendance) and subsequent cases by the parent. The Board offered to include
in their Order a clause empowering the Council to provide, or contract for,
medical and nursing assistance for the poor, who may be suffering from these
diseases But no action was taken.
However, on the 8th December, I submitted to the Sanitary Committee
the Regulations (Order) of 27th November with a circular letter and memorandum
thereon, which were distributed to every Councillor. This Order of the
Local Government Board made measles and rubeola compulsorily notifiable
throughout England and Wales. It comes into force on the 1st January, 1916.
We were instructed to take all possible means to make this Order known to the
public before 17th December, and the Education Committee assisted by
distributing 12,000 leaflets in the schools for the information to reach the homes
of the people.
I made recommendation as follows:—"Of course in previous years some
amount of attention has been given to measles, when notified to me by teachers
or attendance officers. One visit at least was paid to the home by a woman
inspector, in order that I might arrange for the exclusion of patients and
contacts from school, day and Sunday. But now compulsory notification of
every case, followed by a number of visits necessary to supervise each family