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44
In regard to the provision to be made for tuberculous discharged soldiers
and sailors, the report to the Government of the inter-departmental committee
over which Sir Montague Barlow presided, recommended, amongst other
things, that a grant of a million sterling should be made to finance village
settlements of a permanent kind. How far the Treasury will go remains to
be ascertained, but an immediate additional grant of £10,000 for work that
can be done within the present financial year has been sanctioned by
Parliament.
THE MEASLES EPIDEMIC.
There were 10 deaths, compared with 7, 17 and 29, in 1918-17-16. This
number is equal to a death-rate of 0.13 per 1,000 living, compared with 0.09
last year. The rate was 0.10 in England and Wales, 0.08 in London, and
0.13 in the 96 Great Towns (including London).
None occurred in the first age-period (under one year), two in the second
period (one and under two years), four in the third (two and under five years),
and four between five and fifteen years of age. There was none in the Infirmary.
I received notifications about 2,495 cases—2,357 being defined as English
and 138 as Rubella (formerly "German measles"). Of these, 2,356 English
and 137 Rubella were among residents; one English and one Rubella were
notified amongst strangers at the Infirmary. The attack-rate was therefore
32.91 for every 1,000 inhabitants. Doctors notified 1,430 English and 85
Rubella, and parents 927 English and 53 Rubella. Thirty-five were doubly
notified by doctor and parent.
For incidence on the various age periods, see Table II. at end of this Report.
There were also two military cases; both of these were English.
For the four weeks ending 24th May, 60 cases in 56 houses (4 G) were
reported, compared with 14 cases in 13 houses during the previous four weeks.
During the five weeks ending 28th June, 207 cases in 158 houses (17 G.). The
closure of Croyland Road Infants' School for a fortnight was extended for
another week. The M.O.H. addressed a circular to the Managers of the Sunday
Schools. For the four weeks ending 26th July there were 298 cases in 231
houses (33 G.). The type of disease was mild.
I was not aware until a few days before, that Peace Celebrations on Thursday,
July 24th, would involve the use of school buildings. I had thought
that the festivities were confined to the open spaces of Pymmes Park.
On July 22nd, as M.O.H., I addressed a circular to all the head teachers
of the public elementary schools, asking them to help the Council and myself
by remembering that exclusion notices affecting patients and contacts beyond
July 24th have effect in preventing such persons invading the school buildings
on that date, and by announcing this fact to their scholars at once.