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The deaths from diarrhoea and enteritis amongst children under 2 years in the
Metropolis numbered 3,098 as compared with 1,371 for 1912 giving a death-rate of
0.68 as against 030 per 1,000 population for 1912.
MEASLES.
The deaths from measles numbered 40 as compared with 126 in 1912, 125 in
1911, 80 in 1910 and 127 in 1909. The cases coming under the treatment of the
poor law medical officers during the year were far less numerous than in 1912 and
there was also a great decrease in the number of cases reported through the school
authorities so there is no doubt that the disease was much less prevalent than in
1912. During January there were 23 deaths, February 12, March 4, April 8, and
May 2 ; there were no more deaths until November when 3 were recorded and
there were no deaths in December. All the deaths were of children under 10
years of age ; under one year 12 died, between 1 and 5 years 27 and from 5 to 10
there was one death, the deaths were equally divided between males and females.
The measles death-rate was 0'36 per 1,000 population as compared with 1.14 in
1912, 1.13 in 1911, 0.70 in 1910, 1.11 in 1909, 0.44 in 1908, 0.99 in 1907, 0.64 in
1906, 0.52 in 1905, 0.69 in 1904, 0.85 in 1903, 0.72 in 1902 and 0.64 in 1901. The
rate was lower than in any year since 1889. Relatively it was highest in Church
and lowest in Kingsland Ward being 0 57 for the former and 0.09 for the latter
ward.
The number of instances in which houses were brought to the notice of the
Health Department as having measles therein was 251, as compared with 847 for
1912, 602 in 1911 and 736 for 1910. Some of the houses were reported more
than once. In the great majority of the cases the information was received
through the school authorities. From the inquiries made in 38 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 170. Eight
cases were notified from other sources. Intimations were received from the
Metropolitan Asylums Board as to the removal of 73 cases of measles to the hospitals
of the Board from Shoreditch during the year. The majority of these were cases
treated by the Poor Law Medical Officers.
Disinfection in the majority of cases coming under notice was carried out by
the officers of the Borough Council; 168 rooms were sprayed, and the usual steps
were taken as to bedding and textile articles. Altogether some 120 beds, 110
mattresses, 221 pillows, 73 bolsters, and 1,184 other articles were removed for
disinfection at the disinfecting station. In 12 instances disinfection was carried
out by the occupiers of the dwellings where the cases had occurred. This was done
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 other
dangerous infectious diseases.