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41
During December, 448 visits were paid for measles, but only 23 on child
welfare account. Nineteen deaths from measles were registered this month.
Mr. Butland devoted much time to the disinfection of schools, churches,
chapels, church halls, and similar buildings, and Mr. Oades and Miss Hill
were fully engaged in clerical work relating to measles.
Miss Sheffield began work on Wednesday, December 27th, when the
visiting was 18 days in arrears.
At the ordinary Sanitary Committee Meeting of January 3rd, 1917, I
reported further particulars of the epidemic, that had new reached its
maximum. During the five weeks ending December 30th, no less than 451
notifications were received from 357 houses, and the women inspectors paid
448 visits on this particular count. I expressed a strong conviction that the
admission of children to cinemas, and other places of indoor entertainment,
whilst the schools were closed, was a great factor in the persistence of the
epidemic.
On the 10th January, 1917, at a Special Meeting of the Sanitary Committee,
I submitted particulars of measles cases notified during 1916, and
for the New Year, up-to-date, when it was decided to re-open the public
elementary and other schools on Monday. January 15th, but to keep the
Infants' departments closed until January 22nd.
On 6th January, 1917, the Middlesex County Council sent a circular
letter to the proprietors of picture theatres or cinematograph shows in
Edmonton, suggesting that, in the interests of public health, children under
14 years of age should not be admitted during the great prevalence of
measles. This appeal only met with a partial response.
When the Committee's report reached the Council, in Special Meeting on
January 12th, 1917, our Solicitor in attendance, I reported five families
where the disease had either not been notified at all, or not within the
prescribed time; also the wilful exposure of two patients in public vehicles.
The selection of cases for prosecution was left to the Chairman of the
Sanitary Committee, our Solicitor, and myself. Those that were not
prosecuted were requested to attend the Sanitary Committee.
It was also decided that a letter from the Clerk be sent to medical
practitioners requesting them to assist the Council in arriving at correct
death returns, by the doctors stating definitely in their certificates the
primary cause, as well as the immediate cause, of death. This was sent on
19th January, 1917.