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94
MEASLES.
The total number of deaths registered as due to this disease is 712
Most of these occurred during a slight epidemic at the beginning of the
year and were caused by the children being exposed to the severe
weather too early, and as a result inflammation of the lungs supervened,
which in most cases was the secondary cause of death.
SCARLET-FEVER.
The number of deaths from this cause was 37, giving a death rate of
0.3. This small number is to be accounted for only by the disease not
appearing in an epidemic form, and also to the fact that a much larger
use is made of the isolation available in the Asylum Board Hospitals.
It would be much more gratifying if parents would see the necessity of
isolating cases of this disease, and when isolation is impracticable to
have them removed to the Fever Hospitals. Much of the prejudice
that existed on the part of parents objecting to their children's removal
is rapidly diminishing. There can be but little doubt of the benefit to
be derived from early isolation of infectious diseases and it is very satisfactory
to find the Managers of the Metropolitan Asylums Board are
wishful to enable persons suffering from these diseases to be admitted to
their hospitals with as little delay as possible, and with that view, have
now resolved to apply to the Local Government Board to obtain
authority to remove cases of Fever and Small-pox whose removal shall
be applied for by a duly registered medical practitioner. If this can
be done I am sure it will save much unnecessary delay, which has been
both prejudicial to the patient, distressing to the friends, and dangerous
to the locality, instead of having to go through the present formalities of
which you are aware.
DIPHTHERIA.
The number of deaths from this contagious disease registered is 15.
Most of these deaths occurred in public Institutions outside the district,
only 6 of these taking place in Mile End ; it is to be regretted that the
Local Government Board do not authorise the reception of cases of this
disease to the Asylums Board Hospitals, as it is often difficult to obtain
admission to General Hospitals.
ENTERIC FEVER.
The number of deaths from this disease was 17. This I consider to
be very small indeed. In one part of the district several cases were
directly traced to defective drainage, which was rectified and happily
the disease did not spread.
THE NOTIFICATION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
I here can be but little doubt that compulsory notification of these
diseases is urgently required and it is to be hoped the Government will,
at no distant date, deal with the subject. All the sanitary authorities of
the Metropolis have expressed themselves in favour of the principle of
notification, and whilst awaiting for such an important event to take place
your Vestry have sanctioned a system of "voluntary notification from