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Measles.
During- the six months under review 62 deaths occurred from
this disease, and over 77 per cent, of these deaths occurred in
children under 2 years of age, and it can be reasonably assumed
that the actual cause of death was, in most cases, due to bronchial
pneumonia, secondary to measles. Only 18 cases were
removed to Hospital, the remaining 44 cases died at home, 34
in houses where the family occupied two rooms or less.
Whooping Cough.
Whooping Cough accounted for 18 deaths under 5 years of
age (eight cases died in Hospital, the remainder at home).
Though this number is a comparatively small one, it may be mentioned
that in the year 1925 no fewer than 81 deaths occurred
from this disease in this Borough.
Diphtheria.
All the deaths from this disease occurred in Hospital. It is
hoped that the incidence of this disease will fall when the number
of cases immunised against it becomes increased.
Scarlet Fever.
Only one death was certified as due to this disease—that
being a case which developed Measles and Pneumonia while
suffering from Scarlet Fever.
The figures dealt with in this report refer only to deaths.
The number of actual cases of Infectious Disease which do not
die, but in which the child is left chronically debilitated, is great.
I am confident that the provision of adequate hospital treatment
for cases of Measles, Whooping Cough and Pneumonia in
particular would greatly reduce the death rate and the incidence
of these diseases. I suggest that at present the most rapid and
most economical method of providing such accommodation would
be to send the cases of Scarlet Fever occurring in the Borough
to a new ward at Harold Wood and reserve the wards at Plaistow
Hospital, now used for Scarlet Fever, for the reception of
such cases as I have described above.
According to the Census of 1921, the number of children up
to four years of age domiciled in West Ham was 31,941. For
this vast child population the number of Hospital cots available
in the Borough is quite inadequate, only a very small percentage
of sick children being able to receive necessary hospital treatment.
In addition to deaths from Infectious Diseases, I should like
to emphasise the large number of deaths occurring amongst
infants for Marasmus, Atrophy, and Prematurity. Consideration
should be given to this factor in connection with any scheme
for further provision of Institutional accommodation for infants
and young children.
F. GARLAND COLLINS.
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