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9
associated with sanitary environment and infectious diseases.
As time went on, however, a more personal aspect came into
public health work, and personal hygiene, as distinct from
environmental hygiene, is now regarded as the more important
factor to be taken into consideration in preventive medicine.
This is exemplified by such measures as the medical inspection
and treatment of school children, the care of the consumptive,
and the care and comfort of the mother and the child. This
indicates that preventive medicine in the future will be more
intimately personal than ever, and it is in this connection that
the importance of preventive medicine in the interests of the
expectant mother and of the young child cannot be over
emphasized.
The circumstances associated with infectious diseases seem
to suggest that a change of policy with regard to the method
of dealing with these diseases is essential. Scarlet Fever and
Diphtheria appear to be becoming less virulent in form than
they were, while little or no diminution is taking place in the
case of Measles, a disease which still appears to be treated
somewhat casually by the public, and the danger of which,
particularly in young children, is not sufficiently appreciated.
There is need to constantly remind the public of the high
death rate from Measles, and the fact that attacks which are
not fatal leave behind serious after-effects. The provision of
adequate hospital accommodation for children suffering from
a severe attack of Measles is overdue, but there are many
difficulties in the way of providing additional infectious beds
in London, and it is therefore a debatable point as to whether
or not the best use is being made of the existing beds which
are, in the main, reserved for cases of Diphtheria and Scarlet
Fever. Many cases of Scarlet Fever can be adequately and
safely treated at home, and, personally, I should like to see
B