Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]
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apprehension of Diphtheria on the one hand, and
indifference to Measles on the other, is in large
measure to be accounted for by the fact that the
one disease is compulsorily notifiable while the other
is not. If, for no other reason than the removal
of the "only Measles" attitude, the compulsory
notification of Measles would justify the expense.
What I have stated with regard to Measles
applies equally to Whooping Cough, for although
this year only 25 deaths have occurred last year
there were no fewer than 57.
To make these diseases notifiable is greatly to
increase the cost of Public Health administration,
since if their incidence is to be diminished the same
or similar means for prevention will be required to be
taken, but there can be no doubt that if these
measures were taken there would be, as in the other
notifiable diseases, a lessened incidence and a lessened
mortality, and the economic gain to the community
would far outweigh the cost.
TUBERCULAR DISEASES AND CANCER.
One hundred and eleven deaths from Phthisis,
and 49 from other Tubercular diseases were recorded