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

London County Council 1908

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]

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42
Of the above 142 closures, 122 were carried out by this department, usually after consultation
with the local authorities. The following 20 closures were carried out by local sanitary authorities
acting alone—
Le wish am ... ... Diphtheria ... ... 4 classrooms.
Scarlet Fever ... ... 1 department.
1 classroom.
Measles 3 departments.
10 classrooms.
Bermondsey ... ... Scarlet Fever ... ... 1 classroom.

Table: In the case of measles, the disease for which class closure is most frequently required, the numbers of classrooms and departments closed in infants schools were distributed through the year as follows :—

In the case of measles, the disease for which class closure is most frequently required, the numbers of classrooms and departments closed in infants schools were distributed through the year as follows :—

Y ear1907.1908.
MonthApril.May.June.July.Aug.Sept.Oct.Nov.Dec.Jan.Feb.Mar.
Classrooms.P.6714122210131
N.P.321-1—-37
Departments.P.12-1-221
N.P.I1-1---1--1-
Schools affected.P589123—29102
N.P.14221-1—215

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Miscellaneous Closures.—Gideon-road. Several rooms were flooded in consequence of
heavy rains, and one department was closed for two weeks. The boys' and girls' departments were
closed for three days.
Neckinger-road.—The whole school was closed on account of the verminous state of the school
furniture and walls.
St. Peter's, Greenwich.—The girls' department was closed by the managers on the advice of
44 medical authorities," owing to the presence of scarlet fever.
Closures for Disinfection.—The following closures were carried out for the purpose of
disinfection only, but in no case did the period extend beyond one and a half days.
Scarlet Fever.—Three infants' departments ; three infants' classrooms ; one girls' classroom ; one
non-provided school.
Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria.—One infants' classroom.
Measles.—One infants' department (non-provided). ,r
1st APRIL TO 81st DECEMBER, 1908.

Table: Charts.—The diagrams illustrating the rise and fall of scarlet fever (I, K) and diphtheria (J,Lfor the nine months ended 31st December, 1908, show a marked decrease in the incidence of these two diseases ; we are able to report in each disease a marked diminution in the weekly mean ; com pared with the corresponding nine months of the previous year, the decrease in the case of scarlel fever is still more pronounced.

Charts.—The diagrams illustrating the rise and fall of scarlet fever (I, K) and diphtheria (J,Lfor the nine months ended 31st December, 1908, show a marked decrease in the incidence of these two diseases ; we are able to report in each disease a marked diminution in the weekly mean ; com pared with the corresponding nine months of the previous year, the decrease in the case of scarlel fever is still more pronounced.

Period.Weekly mean.
Scarlet fever.Diphtheria.
All persons.Public elementary school children.All persons.Public elementary school children.
Whole year ended 31st March, 190852125017063
Nine months ended 31st December, 190755226517063
Nine months ended 31st December, 190841319614052

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During the nine months 14,547 cases of measles were reported. The weekly mean was 373,
representing a decrease of 134 cases per week over the corresponding nine months of the previous year.
The numbers of schools under observation during the nine months for diphtheria, scarlet fever
and measles were as follows