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1907
148
NON-NOTIFIABLE DISEASES.
It is satisfactory once more to note that the number of cases of nonnotifiable
infectious diseases occurring among scholars notified by teachers of
the public elementary schools show a decided increase, for they numbered
5,829, as compared with 4,135 in 1906.
It was mentioned in last year's report, and it may be repeated here, for it is
a very important matter, that from 1891 to 1898 no returns, or very few, were
received by the Medical Officer of Health from the school teachers. In 1899,
owing to very strong and repeated representations, 829 cases were notified.
Then in the following year the number rose to 3,066, varying slightly from
year to year, but with a tendency to increase until it has reached the high
number that has just been indicated. The figures for each of the years are as
follows:—
1899 829 1903 2,298
1900 3,066 1904 2,425
1901 3,395 i905 3,397
1902 2,307 1906 4,135
1907 5,829.
The cases of disease notified during the year were Measles 2,065, Chicken
Pox 981, Whooping Cough 831, and other diseases 1,952.
Although so many cases have been notified, there is room for improvement
in the manner of notification, for it too frequently happens that teachers do
not report them in as they arise, but wait until they have a large batch, the
result of which is that it is too late then to effect any good by a visit to the
premises, because any mischief that might have occurred would already have
taken place. The information, to be of any use, especially in such a disease
as Measles, must be given instantly, as it is one which is infectious in its early
stages and spreads very rapidly.