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20
MEASLES.
This disease was very prevalent during the months of
February and March. The actual number of cases is unknown
as the disease is not a notifiable one. The teachers in the schools
inform me of all cases coming to their notice, and from this source
791 cases were reported during the year.
70 deaths were registered as being due to Measles. This
equals a Death-rate of 0.49 per 1,000 of population; in the
previous year the deaths numbered 32, with a Death-rate of 0.24
per 1,000.
The Death-rate from this disease in England and Wales
during 1907 was 0.36 per 1,000 of population.
Of the 70 deaths registered in the Borough during the year,
62 were of children under five years of age.
WHOOPING COUGH.
This disease also was more prevalent than during the
previous year, and there were 62 deaths registered attributed to
this cause. As this, too, is not a notifiable disease, we can only
gauge its prevalence and severity by means of the death returns,
and by information of the cases coming to the notice of the school
teachers. From the latter source, only 41 cases were reported
during the year.
The Death-rate was equal to 0.44 per 1,000 of population,
compared with a rate of 0-18 in the previous year.
The Death-rate of England and Wales from this cause
during 1907 was 0.29 per 1,000.
Of the 62 deaths occurring in the Borough from this disease
no less than 58 were of children under five years of age.
The two diseases, Measles and Whooping Cough, are
usually considered to be "trifling ailments," a doctor is rarely
called in, and children suffering from these complaints are not
generally given sufficient care and attention ; the result is a very
high mortality.