London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Islington 1927
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington Borough]
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1927 42
THE INFECTIOUS DISEASES IN THE PUBLIC ELEMENTARY
SCHOOLS.
871 caes of the notifiable infectious diseases occurred in the Public Elementary Schools of the Borough, of which 516 were Scarlet Fever and 348 Diphtheria.
The number of notifications of the several diseases are given below :—
| Disease. | No. of Notifications. | Average of preceding 10 years. | Increase or Decrease. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Pox | - | - | - |
| Scarlet Fever | 516 | 694 | — 178 |
| Diphtheria | 348 | 424 | — 76 |
| Enteric Fever | 4 | 1 | + 3 |
| Other Diseases | 3 | - | + 3 |
| Total | 871 | 1,119 | — 248 |
Non-NotifiableDiseases.—4,984 cases came to the knowledge of the
Medical Officer of Health during the year, viz.: 919 cases of Measles, 1,458 cases
of Chicken Pox, 632 of Whooping Cough, and 1,975 of other diseases.
The information respecting these cases was received from the teachers of
schools within the borough.
Exclusion of Scholars from Schools.—2,920 children were excluded
from classrooms of various schools owing to the presence of an infectious disease,
chiefly Diphtheria and Scarlet Fever, in the houses wherein they lived.
The non-notifiable diseases among children attending the Public Elementary Schools were :—
| Disease. | Notifications by Teachers. | Average of preceding 10 years. | Increase or Decrease. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Measles | 919 | 1,759 | — 840 |
| Chicken Pox | 1,458 | 834 | + 624 |
| Whooping Cough | 632 | 564 | + 68 |
| Other Diseases | 1,975 | 2,334 | — 359 |
| 4,984 | 5,491 | — 507 | |
| * Note.—"Other Diseases" include Mumps, Scabies, Ophthalmia, Itch, etc. | |||
BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS.
2,629 examinations were made for the medical profession of the sputum, of
swabs from the throat, and of the blood of patients suspected to be suffering from
Tuberculosis, Diphtheria and Enteric Fever, respectively.
The number is an increase of 94 on that of the preceding year. It was
also 845 above the decennial average. Of the total examinations, 374 or 14.2
per cent, gave positive results.
Diphtheria —1,833 specimens were examined for Diphtheria, of which 260
or 14 per cent., were found to contain Diphtheria baccilli.
Enteric Fever.—24 specimens of blood were examined, 3 of which gave
negative results.
Tuberculosis—772 specimens of sputum were examined, 111, or 14.3 per
cent., of which showed that the patients were suffering from pulmonary
tuberculosis.