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22
I quote the Lancet of July, 1894:—"A few medical officers
of health find that the notification of measles is a valuable means
for the purposes of public health, but a larger number imply that
the notification of this disease has done little more than lead to a
considerable expense in notification fees without any corresponding
benefit."
The Council has agreed that something should be done to
reduce our exceptionally high mortality from Whooping Cough,
and that it is well to include Measles in our action. The whole
matter is a very difficult one to have to face, but I have great
confidence in some measure of good resulting from the following
comparatively costless and simple scheme, which has been sanctioned
by the Council and which aims at giving advice to the
poorer parishioners, among whom the vast majority of fatal cases
occur, and also at seeking the co-operation of school authorities,
The distribution of small handbills of advice to the poorer class
parishioners (say to all those in houses of a rateable value of £25
and under) has been sanctioned, and these bills are to be
distributed every November and May (i.e., just before the months
when the disease generally shows an increase).
The handbill is as follows:—
PRECAUTIONS
against the spread of
MEASLES & WHOOPING COUGH.
Measles and Whooping Cough are two preventable diseases which,
together, kill more children than Small-pox, Typhoid Fever, and Diphtheria
combined; they must not, therefore, be regarded as trivial, nor should
prompt and proper care and treatment ever be dispensed with.
Measles is infectious for three weeks from the date of commencement
of the first symptoms (i.e., of severe cold in the head), and Whooping Cough
is infectious for at least six weeks. During these periods the child should
be kept indoors and separated as far as possible from all healthy children.
No healthy child, from a house where Measles or Whooping Cough
is prevalent, should be allowed to attend School during the period
named above; and it is very dangerous for parents to visit among their