View report page

23
had not been away from home for some considerable time previously. No information
was obtainable as to anything having been taken likely to set up the symptoms
with which he suffered. There was no reason for regarding the case as other than
one of English cholera.
MEASLES.
This disorder was prevalent in Shoreditch during the months of January, February,
March, and April, and again during November and December. The deaths for the
year numbered 101, 13 being of persons belonging to Shoreditch South, 29 to Hoxton
New Town, 14 to Hoxton Old Town and 45 to Haggerston. In the subjoined table
are shewn the numbers of deaths and the death-rates due to measles together with
the total deaths from all causes in Shoreditch during the past seven years :—

The deaths in the metropolis during 1898 caused by measles numbered 3,075, and
the death-rate was 0 68 per 1,000 inhabitants.
All the children who died from measles in Shoreditch were under five years of
age. In most instances complications, principally bronchitis and pneumonia, supervened
in the fatal cases. Measles is an infectious disease oftentimes attended by a
high rate of mortality, which is very likely to be the case if the patients do not receive
proper treatment and nursing. Handbills pointing this out are circulated in the
parish when measles is prevalent. Beyond exclusion from school of children from
infected houses practically nothing is done to prevent the dissemination of the
disease.
In April a communication was received from the Public Health Committee of
the London County Council, enclosing a copy of a letter addressed to the Council by
the London School Board. The School Board pointed out that several cases had
come under observation, in which it was found that children had been attending
school whilst suffering from measles, and directed attention to the fact that local
authorities are ak the present time without power to take action in such cases. The
Council were urged to include " measles'' amongst the diseases classed as
" dangerous " in the Public Health (Lond.) Act, 1891, for the purposes set forth in