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24
Measles.
46. Owing to the prevalence of measles, some handbills were
printed and distributed in January, 1895, warning those who
had the care of children of the infectiousness and fatality of
this disease. I believe that if this common affection of childhood
were regarded more seriously, and medical advice sought
and precautions taken many lives might be saved which are
now lost. With the view of inducing the public to recognize
the importance of this disease, I recommended that application
should be made to the Local Government Board for leave to
apply Sections 64, 68 and 70 of the Public Health Act to
Measles. This would have the effect of making it penal to
expose cases of Measles, without enforcing notification of such
cases. The Committee did not however think it desirable
that these Sections should be applied.
Erysipelas.
47. Having found that cases of Erysipelas were usually
moved to the Workhouse Infirmary in the ordinary vehicle
which was used for non-infectious cases, I called the attention
of the Guardians to the fact that this was a breach of the
Public Health Act, and they now keep a special vehicle for use
in such cases.
48. On my suggestion the Health Committee attempted to
obtain from the Asylums Board weekly returns of the cases
from Plumstead that had removed from, or died in the Board's
Hospitals, but without success. The Asylums Board pointed
out that their returns were sent to the Woolwich Guardians.
This instance illustrates the anomalous condition under which
the Sanitary Authority is quite out of touch with its own Fever
Hospital Authority. The Clerk to the Health Committee now