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51
MEASLES.
559 cases of measles occurred in the Borough during 1949,
as against 358 cases for "1948, giving an attack rate of 8.7 per 1,000
population. The distribution of the cases occurring was fairly
even throughout the area. Of these cages, ten were admitted to
hospital.
As this disease is largely a disease of the young child, an
attack of Measles can have a far-reaching debilitating effect.
The control of the disease is not an easy matter, but careful
nursing and isolation are not only necessary for the sake of the
patient, but necessary for preventing the spread to others. The
use of immune sera is not universally practised.
WHOOPING COUGH.
199 cases were notified, giving an attack rate of 3.1 per 1,000
population. Six of these cases were admitted to hospital, and
there was one death.
Whooping Cough again was of a mild type, and it is principally
the pulmonary complications of this disease that give rise
to trouble, especially in very young children.
Investigations are still proceeding into the efficacy of various
prophylactic vaccines, but as yet nothing very definite has been
discovered. On the other hand, one does not want to appear
pessimistic, and it can only be a question of time before the
control of Whooping Cough becomes as effective as that of
Diphtheria.

Full details of the new cases and mortality during the year
are shown in Table XI. of the Appendix.