View report page

33
Measles.—The deaths in 1896 from this disease numbered 83,
against 108 in 1895. The death-rate from this cause is therefore
.38 per 1000 living. From these figures it may be seen that Measles
is more destructive to life than either of the other zymotic diseases,
except diarrhoea and whooping cough. From recent reports, where
notification of this disease has been tried, it has been ascertained
that while relatively the incidence of attack is greatest during the
third years, the motality is highest in the second year of life, so
that if any means could be devised for delaying the attack to the
third or fourth year of life, a corresponding decline in the mortality
would be brought about. In recent years, from time to time, it has
been suggested, in order that local authorities may obtain some
control over this disease, that it should be made notifiable. This
proposal has not been generally accepted. Many objections have
been urged against it, of which the following are the chief:
1. Even if notification were adopted, many cases would not
come to the knowledge of the Sanitary Authority, owing to the
fact that this disease is by most people considered a trivial and
necessary disease of childhood, and consequently no medical
attendant is called in.
2. Measles being highly infective two or three days before
the characteristic rash appears, which usually settles the
diagnosis; consequently much mischief may be done in conveying
the disease to other children before its real character
is known.
3. The impossibility in many cases of providing isolation
at the homes of the patient; and the enormous cost of providing
hospital accommodation for such cases during epidemic periods.
4. The large expenditure in notification fees, and the cost
of a largely increased sanitary staff, if full advantage of notification
is to be taken to control the disease.
b