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The compulsory notification of measles
PUBLIC HEALTH.
1916 . CORRESPONDENCE.
The Editor does not accept responsibility for the opinions o/ correspondents. To the Editor o{ PUBLIC H~ALTI~. T H E COMPULSORY NOTIFICATION OF MEASLES.
DEAR SIR, Surely all the circumstances amply justify the Local Government Board Order. It has 10ng been a reproach to us that we have been able to achieve so little in the direction of reducing the evil consequences of infection from measles; and I feel sure that, as a body, we shall welcome the fact that something upon a national scale has been demanded, even though many m a y take the view that there is but little prospect of a large measure of success in the near future. Many of the oft-repeated arguments against the notification of measles no longer appeal to me. I am in no sympathy, for instance, with those who contend that the measure, being a costly one, is opposed to the need for economy. This takes too short-sighted a view of economy. The mere refraining from spending money is not necessarily economy. The wealth of a community is mainly determined by human labour, and that depends upon the quantity and quality of its workers. Therefore, true economy must embrace every legitimate effort to foster and preserve population. These are not the days for the community to indulge in the most culpable form of municipal extravagance and waste, viz., t h a t involved in the neglect of childlife. As to the argument that the notification of measles has been pronounced a failure by those who have tried i t : before any value attaches to this, we must have an intimate knowledge of the working details of the schemes that have hitherto proved failures. I t is well known that in Some instances tittle was done beyond filing the notifications. I-Ias the comprehensive scheme outlined in Dr. Newsholme's Memorandum ever been put into operation ? I do not for a moment believe that it has ; and therefore we must not pIejudge it. As to school notifications, we are reminded in the Memorandum of the'insufficiency and lateness of these ; and with reference to the difficulties of staffing during epidemics I believe we shall find, even in these days, t h a t " where there's a will there's a way " - - e v e n though the way does not lead all the distance we should like to go. The main object of the Order is to secure nursing assistance (when required), for cases of measles occurring at the ages when it is most fatal; and by empowering sanitary authorities to provide such nursing the Local Government
523
Board have placed a new and valuable lifesaving power in our hands, and it is our duty to make the best use of it. If, under War circumstances, medical officers of health concentrate upon necessitous cases, and persuade their authorities to provide a nurse night and morning to tend these, there can be no doubt that many lives will be saved, There can equally be no doubt that the mortality and maiming from measles result very largely from the ignorant view so commonly entertained that the disease is always a trivial o n e ; and I see in the compulsory notification of the disease, followed by visits, provisions which will produce good results by combatting that view. I t would be useful if we could obtain some information in your columns of the nursing work which, as I understand, has already been started under the Board's Order in a considerable number of sanitary areas. I am, Sir, yours faithflllly, I-I. ICENWOOI). April 7th, 1916. [The Editor regrets that this letter was unavoidably held over from last number owing to pressure on space.]
THE PROVINCIAL MEETING OF THE SOCIETY OF MEDICAL OFFICERS OF HEALTH. Provincial Meeting of the Society of T H EMedical Officers of Health will be held at 12 noon on Saturday, Ist July, 1916, at the Mitre Hotel, Hampton Court. After the transaction of the formal business of the Society there will be an opportunity of visiting Hampton Court Palace. The Fellows and their guests will lunch at the Mitre at I p.m. precisely. Single tickets, exclusive of wine, 5s. each. Ladies m a y be invited. Members are requested to signify their intention to be present to the Executive Secretary, I, Upper Montague Street, Russell Square, Bloomsbury, W.C. After lunch the party will proceed by launch to visit, by special permission of the Metropolitan Water Board, the Pumping Station at Hampton, Walton Reservoir at Sunbury, and other works of the Board. Dr. A. C. Houston, the Director of Water Examination to the Board, has kindly consented to accompany the party and explain the methods adopted for the purification o f the water. One of the Engineers of the Board will describe the turbines, pumps, and other mechanical means employed. Trains for Hampton Court leave Waterloo Station (L. & S.W. R,y.) at lO.3O, 11.3o a.m., and 1.6 p.m. (4° minutes journey). There is a IOminute service of electric trains both via Wimbledon and Richmond, to Kingston, where a tramcar can be taken to the Mitre, Hampton Court. The journey by this route takes about 4 ° minutes, and is recommended. Motor-omnibuses also rurt from London to Hampton Court.
1916 . CORRESPONDENCE.
The Editor does not accept responsibility for the opinions o/ correspondents. To the Editor o{ PUBLIC H~ALTI~. T H E COMPULSORY NOTIFICATION OF MEASLES.
DEAR SIR, Surely all the circumstances amply justify the Local Government Board Order. It has 10ng been a reproach to us that we have been able to achieve so little in the direction of reducing the evil consequences of infection from measles; and I feel sure that, as a body, we shall welcome the fact that something upon a national scale has been demanded, even though many m a y take the view that there is but little prospect of a large measure of success in the near future. Many of the oft-repeated arguments against the notification of measles no longer appeal to me. I am in no sympathy, for instance, with those who contend that the measure, being a costly one, is opposed to the need for economy. This takes too short-sighted a view of economy. The mere refraining from spending money is not necessarily economy. The wealth of a community is mainly determined by human labour, and that depends upon the quantity and quality of its workers. Therefore, true economy must embrace every legitimate effort to foster and preserve population. These are not the days for the community to indulge in the most culpable form of municipal extravagance and waste, viz., t h a t involved in the neglect of childlife. As to the argument that the notification of measles has been pronounced a failure by those who have tried i t : before any value attaches to this, we must have an intimate knowledge of the working details of the schemes that have hitherto proved failures. I t is well known that in Some instances tittle was done beyond filing the notifications. I-Ias the comprehensive scheme outlined in Dr. Newsholme's Memorandum ever been put into operation ? I do not for a moment believe that it has ; and therefore we must not pIejudge it. As to school notifications, we are reminded in the Memorandum of the'insufficiency and lateness of these ; and with reference to the difficulties of staffing during epidemics I believe we shall find, even in these days, t h a t " where there's a will there's a way " - - e v e n though the way does not lead all the distance we should like to go. The main object of the Order is to secure nursing assistance (when required), for cases of measles occurring at the ages when it is most fatal; and by empowering sanitary authorities to provide such nursing the Local Government
523
Board have placed a new and valuable lifesaving power in our hands, and it is our duty to make the best use of it. If, under War circumstances, medical officers of health concentrate upon necessitous cases, and persuade their authorities to provide a nurse night and morning to tend these, there can be no doubt that many lives will be saved, There can equally be no doubt that the mortality and maiming from measles result very largely from the ignorant view so commonly entertained that the disease is always a trivial o n e ; and I see in the compulsory notification of the disease, followed by visits, provisions which will produce good results by combatting that view. I t would be useful if we could obtain some information in your columns of the nursing work which, as I understand, has already been started under the Board's Order in a considerable number of sanitary areas. I am, Sir, yours faithflllly, I-I. ICENWOOI). April 7th, 1916. [The Editor regrets that this letter was unavoidably held over from last number owing to pressure on space.]
THE PROVINCIAL MEETING OF THE SOCIETY OF MEDICAL OFFICERS OF HEALTH. Provincial Meeting of the Society of T H EMedical Officers of Health will be held at 12 noon on Saturday, Ist July, 1916, at the Mitre Hotel, Hampton Court. After the transaction of the formal business of the Society there will be an opportunity of visiting Hampton Court Palace. The Fellows and their guests will lunch at the Mitre at I p.m. precisely. Single tickets, exclusive of wine, 5s. each. Ladies m a y be invited. Members are requested to signify their intention to be present to the Executive Secretary, I, Upper Montague Street, Russell Square, Bloomsbury, W.C. After lunch the party will proceed by launch to visit, by special permission of the Metropolitan Water Board, the Pumping Station at Hampton, Walton Reservoir at Sunbury, and other works of the Board. Dr. A. C. Houston, the Director of Water Examination to the Board, has kindly consented to accompany the party and explain the methods adopted for the purification o f the water. One of the Engineers of the Board will describe the turbines, pumps, and other mechanical means employed. Trains for Hampton Court leave Waterloo Station (L. & S.W. R,y.) at lO.3O, 11.3o a.m., and 1.6 p.m. (4° minutes journey). There is a IOminute service of electric trains both via Wimbledon and Richmond, to Kingston, where a tramcar can be taken to the Mitre, Hampton Court. The journey by this route takes about 4 ° minutes, and is recommended. Motor-omnibuses also rurt from London to Hampton Court.