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
Lewisham 1911
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham Borough]
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44
NON-NOTIFIABLE INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
The principal infectious diseases which are not compulsorily
notifiable by medical practitioners, are Measles, Whooping
Cough, Chicken-Pox, Mumps, and Ringworm. The existence of
these diseases in children attending the elementary schools is
brought to our notice by the Head Teachers, and, also, in the
case of Measles, by the School Attendance Officers.
The following is a summary of the cases notified from
Schools:—
| Number of children suffering. | Children excluded on account of infection in their homes. | |
|---|---|---|
| Measles | 2047 | 871 |
| Whooping Cough | 208 | 44 |
| Chicken-Pox | 410 | 155 |
| Mumps | 216 | 4 |
| Ringworm | 181 | — |
Measlt's.—The number of measles cases notified was
much in excess of previous years, 2,047 cases being brought to
our notice compared with 1,001 in 1910. Fortunately, in comparison
with the large number of cases which existed, the mortality
was very low, only nineteen deaths being recorded, and,
according to the Registrar General's figures, the death rate from
this disease was lower in this Borough than in any of the
Metropolitan Boroughs.
The outbreak occurred in January, and was most severe
during February. The disease is not notifiable by medical
practitioners, and we were greatly indebted to the School
Teachers for the prompt manner in which they notified actual
or suspected cases, which enabled us to follow up cases at the
homes of the infected or suspected children. In this work your
women sanitary inspectors rendered most valuable assistance.
After personal investigation it was necessary in several
cases to temporarily close certain class-rooms, or exclude all