View report page

24
cidence was very light. In two schools some 100 children were affected
in the first few months of the year, at another some fifty and at a fourth
about thirty in the first term. In the last few weeks of the year one
school had nearly 100 children affected and another about 30.
In spite of the number of cases which occurred, there were no deaths
recorded as due to measles. The total number of visits paid to the homes
was 414, while 19 children were removed to hospital.
WHOOPING COUGH.
While the number of notifications of whooping cough is almost
identical with that of measles the distribution of the two diseases showed
a marked divergence. The weekly incidence figure of 20 for the first two
months rose in March to an average of 40, this rate being maintained for
five months ; in August there was an appreciable decline and in the rest
of the year the weekly average was only nine. Few schools escaped
entirely, though there were many in which throughout the year there were
fewer than 20 cases. On the other hand, even those most heavily attacked
had not more than 70 cases.
Four children died from whooping cough. The number of patients
suffering from this disease who were removed to hospital for treatment
was 19, and the number of visits paid by the health visitors was 531.
NON-NOTIFIABLE INFECTIONS.
Chicken Pox.
In the months March to June two schools each had about 100 children
away suffering from chicken pox, while three others had about
half of this number. In the winter term another school had some 40
cases spread over the three months, while another had some 70 cases in
the month of December. At many other schools the incidence was very
light. In all, intimations were received of 624 absences from school on
account of this infection.
Mumps.
Mumps also was much more prevalent than in the previous year,
intimations being received of 1,175 children being absent from school on
this account. One school in the months March to May had 257 cases,
another in the first three months 139 ; 133 cases occurred in one school in
the first half-year, and 146 cases in another school in the same period.
In the autumn, some schools previously unattacked were affected, one
having 130 cases, another 74, while two others at this time had 39 cases
each.
German Measles.
The incidence of this infection this year was very light, intimations
being received of only ten cases.
Influenza.
Influenza was prevalent in the months of February and March during
which time 25 out of the total of 30 deaths due to this ailment occurred.
143 cases of influenzal pneumonia were notified.