View report page

49
The two diseases therefore, are responsible for about one-twentieth
of the total mortality and instead of being of little importance, they are
the most serious and fatal of all the diseases of children between one
and five years of age.
In former reports I have pointed out that the measures possible
against Measles and Whooping Cough are dissimilar to those undertaken
on behalf of the so-called dangerous infectious diseases, and we rely
upon exclusion from our infants scnools of sufferers and contacts, with
occasional visiting to homes affected, and the distribution of leaflets of
advice.
Much more might be done with a larger staff of health visitors.
Deaths from these diseases occur principally among the children of
the poor owing to want of early treatment and a correct appreciation on
the part of the parents of the seriousness of the diseases.
Were first cases immediately dealt with, and home visits made and
appropriate advice given to our poorest people, many lives could be
saved.
The death-rate from Measles was .14, and that from Whooping
Cough was .22 per 1,000 of the population, the rate for each being
considerably less than that for the "Great Towns."
The deaths from Measles and Whooping Cough for the past 22 years
may be seen from the following chart.
D