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Since the order came into operation, up to the end of the year, intimations were
received as to the existence of measles at 342 houses. The great majority of these
intimations were from school teachers. The enquiries made showed that in 42
instances the illness appeared not to have been due to measles, and in two others the
patients did not belong to Shoreditch. The number of premises in which measles
actually existed was, therefore, 298, and in 279 of these the information as to the
existence of the disease came from school teachers. Disinfection up to the end of the
year was carried out by the officers of the Borough in 207 instances, the usual steps
being taken as to the removal of the bedding and the fumigation of the rooms occupied
by the patients. Altogether 221 rooms were fumigated, and 162 beds, 42 mattresses,
306 pillows, 97 bolsters and 968 other textile articles of various descriptions were
removed and disinfected at the Borough Disinfecting Station.
The Council's order has resulted in a considerable amount of additional work
falling upon the sanitary staff, as all houses in which cases of measles are said to
exist, which come under observation, have to be visited with a view to instructions
being given for the prevention of the spread of the disease and the necessary precautions
being taken as to disinfection. Unfortunately, owing to the fact that it is
practically impossible to isolate cases of measles under ordinary conditions in
Shoreditch, the chances of checking the spread of infection in a house are not very
hopeful. The order, however, may be expected to have a good effect in checking the
spread of infection from household to household, by keeping patients confined to their
dwellings, preventing them being taken in public conveyances, or otherwise exposed
to the danger of the public, by the exclusion of children, belonging to infected families,
from school, and by ensuring adequate measures being taken as to disinfection before
children return to school.
WHOOPING COUGH.
Whooping cough resulted in 41 deaths, 18 of males and 23 of females. All
were of children under ten years of age, and 39 of them were under five years. The
death-rate due to this disorder was 0.35 per 1,000 inhabitants, as compared with
063 in 1902, and 0.49 in 1901. The rates for previous years are contained in the
report for 1901. Deaths from the disease were more numerous during the first half of
the year.
The deaths from whooping cough in the Metropolis during 1903 amounted to
1,627, and the death-rate was 0.35 per 1,000 inhabitants.
INFLUENZA.
Influenza was accountable for 19 deaths, as compared with 14 in 1902, 16 in
1901, 52 in 1900, 35 in 1899, 22 in 1898, and 16 in 1897. The figures for previous
years are contained in the report for 1901. The deaths from influenza were mostly