View report page

120
cough, without the characteristic "whoop," and then may
suddenly show this distinguishing sign, so that it may have
it in an unrecognisable form. At these times, too, coughs
are frequently abundant, and on visiting a class, coughs
may be heard all round without the specific disease being
present. As a children's disease, it is much more fatal
before the age of five years than after. Out of the 10 deaths
from this disease during 1909, 9 were under five years, and
1 from five to fifteen years of age.
GERMAN MEASLES.
As will be seen from the table, only 10 cases of this
disease have been reported from the schools during 1909.
When, as often happens, there is a concurrent epidemic of
this disease with Scarlet Fever, a good deal of trouble is
apt to arise. The symptoms of a mild case of Scarlet Fever,
and those of German Measles are so similar, that it is often
extremely difficult, or impossible to differentiate between
the two. Except from that point of view, German Measles
is not of much importance. It is never fatal, and beyond
the rash and slight sore throat, it gives rise to no troublesome
symptoms in the patient. Its infectivity, too, does not
appear to be so great as some of the other exanthemata.
The cases were distributed in the Spring and Autumn, so
that from April to November, inclusive, there was not a
single case.
CHICKEN POX.
As will be seen from the table, the proportion of cases
of this disease is less than half for 1909, as compared with
1908. In ordinary years this disease is not of much importance,
but when, as sometimes happens, there is an out-