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14
and in whose dwellings isolation is generally quite impossible ;
and therefore, if isolation is to be carried out efficiently
(without which notification is robbed of three-fourths of its
value) sufficient isolation accommodation must be provided.
This would be quite impracticable, owing to the large numbers
(and those mostly very young children) that are attacked at
once when Measles breaks out, thereby rendering necessary the
provision of a very large amount of isolation accommodation
and administrative staff at an enormous cost, that for
many months at a time would not be required at all.
(3) Many cases would never be notified, because parents
often do not call in a doctor for Measles, and even if they were
notified, mothers would frequently refuse to part with their
children at the tender age at which they are mostly attacked.
After due discussion the motion was withdrawn, and it
was unanimously agreed not to add Measles to the list of
notifiable diseases, but to adopt the system described in
an earlier part of this Report.
Whooping Cough.—An extensive epidemic of this
disease broke out in June, more especially in the district
of Chase Side, Southgate, making it necessary for
me, in order to check the spread of the disease, to
recommend the School Authorities to close the Schools in
Southgate for a period ot six weeks, i.e., to the end of the
Summer term. This was accordingly done, and, as far as
could be judged, had a marked effect in checking the spread
of the disease. By the end of the summer holidays the
epidemic had practically died out, and the schools at the
beginning of the winter term were on the whole well
attended.
This epidemic caused 6 deaths.
Influenza.—Although no serious outbreak occurred,
influenza was more or less prevalent throughout the year,
and caused altogether 8 deaths.
Tuberculosis.—There were n deaths due to tubercular
diseases (including phthisis). This is a proportion of 7^4
per cent, of the total number of deaths, and is equal to a
rate of '8 per 1000 of the population. Of these deaths
5 occurred at New Southgate, 3 at Bowes, 2 at Southgate,
and 1 at Winchmore Hill. It will be noticed,
therefore, that the majority of the deaths took place in the
most populous parts of the district, as would be expected
from the nature of the disease. Many of these deaths,