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The number of instances in which houses were brought to the notice of the
Health Department as having measles therein was 602, as compared with 736 for
1910. Some of the houses were reported more than once. In the great majority
of the cases the information as to the houses was received through the school
authorities. From the inquiries made in 142 instances the illness did not appear to
have been measles. The number of children brought to our notice by the school
authorities as suffering from measles was 367. Intimations were received from the
Metropolitan Asylums Board as to the removal of 146 cases of measles to the
hospitals of the Board, from Shoreditch during the year. The great majority of
these would be cases treated by the poor law Medical Officers. It may be
mentioned, however, that persons who are not paupers and who are reasonably
believed to be suffering from measles may be admitted to the hospitals of the
Metropolitan Asylums Board. The conditions associated with their admission are
laid down in the Metropolitan Asylums (Measles) Order, 1911.
Disinfection in the majority of cases coming under notice was carried out by
the officers of the Borough Council; 465 rooms were sprayed, and the usual
steps were taken as to bedding and textile articles. Altogether some 455 beds,
347 mattresses, 847 pillows, 458 bolsters and 6,572 other articles were removed
for disinfection at the disinfecting station. In 15 instances disinfection was carried
out by the occupiers of the dwellings where the cases had occurred to the satisfaction
of the medical practitioners in attendance. Since the inclusion of measles
amongst the dangerous infectious diseases, it has been the rule in this Borough to
deal with it as far as practicable on the same lines as with the other dangerous
infectious diseases.
The deaths from measles in London numbered 2,570, as compared with 1,980
in 1910 and 2,324 in 1909, the death-rate being 0.57 as compared with 0.40 in 1910
and 0.48 in 1909.
WHOOPING COUGH.
The deaths from whooping cough numbered 32, 14 of males and 18 of
females. Of these, 14 were of infants under one year and, the rest, of children
aged from one to five years. Most of the deaths occurred during the months of
February, March, April and May. The death-rate was 0.29 per 1,000 as compared
with 0.39 in 1910 and 0.64 in 1909. The deaths were considerably below the
average for recent years. The death-rate was highest in Acton and lowest in Hoxton
Ward. During the year 165 children were brought to our notice by the school
authorities as suffering from whooping cough.
The deaths from whooping cough in London numbered 1,038, the death-rate
being 0.23 per 1,000 inhabitants.
INFLUENZA.
The deaths attributed to influenza numbered 12, as compared with 16 in 1910,
23 in 1909, 22 in 1908, 23 in 1907, 17 in 1906, 11 in 1905, 14 in 1904, 19 in 1903,