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result of my enquiries was of a distinctly negative
character as to any cause, local or otherwise, and
no sanitary defects were found on either of the
premises, nor were any other cases reported,
though all these houses and others on either side
were fully occupied, and all the occupants living
under precisely the same conditions.
Epidemic
Influenza.
Was prevalent in February, lasting well
into March. Three deaths are attributed to it.
Erysipelas.
Six cases were notified, one was removed
to the Isolation Hospital. All recovered.
Measles.
There were two deaths from this disease.
Even when very prevalent, measles is not now-adays
a very fatal complaint if the patients are well
looked after during convalescence. This is practically
demonstrated by the fact that in families of
the well-to-do a fatal case of measles is extremely
rare, mainly by reason of the constant care and
nursing. But though, unfortunately, this watchfulness
is impossible to the same extent in the
houses of the working classes, where the mothers
have got the house duties and other children to
attend to, yet in a large number of cases there is a
disposition to treat measles far too lightly. A
doctor is by no means always called in, the child
is put to bed for a day or two, given a little saffron
tea or some such rubbish, and allowed to get up
when the rash disappears. A cold is easily contracted
under these circumstances, and bronchitis
or pneumonia may be the consequence. Notification
provides no adequate remedy for its prevalence,
nor for the control of the patients, and as
far as I am able to observe no advantage in any
way commensurate with the cost of notification.
Scarlatina.
There were only thirteen cases notified during
the year, of which twelve were in Surbiton.
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