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
Ilford 1919
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Ilford]
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RINGWORM.
| No. of Cases at begining of 1919 | No, of cases reported during 1919. | Total. | Remedied during 1919. | No. of cases under observation at end of 1919. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ringworm :— | |||||
| Scalp | 13 | 36 | 49 | 34 | 15 |
| Body | — | 24 | 24 | 22 | 2 |
| 13 | 60 | 73 | 56 | 17 | |
The X-ray treatment by the operator employed by the Education
Committee continues to be most satisfactory. No case of
permanent loss of hair occurred, though dermatitis resulted in a
few cases.
A total of 29 children were X-rayed during the year. It will
be seen that the number of cases at the beginning and end of the
year was practically the same.
When parents fully realise the very chronic character of ringworm
of the scalp, unless treated by X-rays, the difficulty at present
experienced in some cases of obtaining consent to its use will
be overcome.
INFECTIOUS DISEASE IN SCHOOL CHILDREN.
Scarlet Fever.
There has been a considerable increase in the number of cases
reported from the schools during 1919. 165 notifications were
received as against 49 in 1918. This is the highest number of
cases of scarlet fever which has been notified since 1912, when
208 cases occurred in school children. All the schools were affected,
but Loxford especially so. The disease was part of a general
epidemic which attacked the London and extra London districts.
Fortunately the type of scarlet fever was a mild one, but this
also increased the chances of spread, several children being discovered
attending school by the School Medical Officer in a peeling
stage, having previously suffered from a slight sore throat, which
had not directed attention to the real condition.