London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Tottenham 1912

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Tottenham]

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76
after the cough has begun. The incubation period is
from 7 to 21 days, and the duration of infection is
about six weeks from the beginning of whooping,
or until the cough has quite ceased, which is
frequently a much longer period. Both measles and
whooping cough are most fatal to children under 5
years of age. The complication that most frequently
causes death is broncho-pneumonia, which is often
set up by exposure to cold.
(3) Mumps:—The incubation period is from 14 to 25
days, and the duration of infection from 3 to 4
weeks; if any doubt exists in the mind of a Teacher
regarding a child with a swelling in the neighbourhood
of the ear, the case should be promptly
referred to one of the Medical Officers.
(4) Scarlet Fever (or Scarlatina) The incubation
period is from 2 to 8 days, and the duration of
infection from 5 to 8 weeks, and occasionally much
longer; indeed, it only ceases when peeling has been
completed, and when the child is free from discharge
from the nose or ear, or from sore places. The
initial symptoms of the disease are vomiting, sore
throat, shiverings, headache, and a hot dry skin;
those are followed in 24 hours, or thereabouts, by
the appearance of a fine scarlet rash on the neck
and chest, often spreading over other parts of the
body and limbs. The tongue is furred with a red