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George's, 378, 18; Limehouse, 350, 15 ; Mile End, 764, 34; Poplar,
964, 33 The hospital accommodation of the Metropolitan Asylums
Board was at times, through pressure, found insufficient to cope with
the number of cases needing removal, but the delay was not so great
as that experienced in the preceding year. Additional hospitals are
in course of erection by the Board.
The Bow death record of scarlet fever is as follows :—
Bow—1880 20
1881 33
1882 18
1883 36
1884 21
1885 6
1886 8
1887 7
1888 50
1889 4
1890 7
1891 3
1892 15
1893 13
1894 8
189 8
1896 7
As in the case of measles the number of deaths from whooping
cough increased by nearly 50 per cent. In 1894 there was the record
return of only 4 deaths, and in 1895 the figures rose to 18. The
1896 return, however, is by no means abnormal, for during the last
1 c years on six occasions the number of deaths last year was
WHOOPING
COUCH.
exceeded, the highest being in 1887 with 69, and 57 in
1890. Happily, therefore, high water mark has not been
touched, but at the same time it appears that so great a
death rate from a disease of this character should not exist. As in the
case of measles I have often called attention to the culpable
carelessness of mothers in their almost studied indifference to the
needs and requirements of their children when suffering from
whooping cough as being the primary cause of its fatal character.
Right treatment and average attention should bring the little patient
safely through this distressing malady, and the evil will not be
remedied until more value is set upon children's lives and a prompter