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43
Pocket spittoons and fibre handkerchiefs are given by the Medical
Officer of Health to those patients who require them. Disinfectants are
also supplied from this Department.
(5) School cases.
Compared with 1907 there was a considerable decrease in the
number of infectious complaints (non-notifiable) reported from the
schools. It is, however, unlikely that the full number of notifications
are sent in from some of the schools. As far as possible, the homes are
visited and simple instructions given to the parent. It is a matter for
regret that considerable time often elapses between the date on which
the child is excluded from school in the first instance, and the date when
the notification of such exclusion reaches the Medical Officer of Health.
Often by the time the home can be visited, the child has been allowed
to mix freely with others in the same house or street, thus infecting
other families.
The notifications were classified thus:—
1st
Quarter.
2nd
Quarter.
3rd
Quarter.
4th
Quarter.
Total.
Measles
22
69
6
93
190
Chicken-pox
17
60
4
5
86
Whooping Cough
12
5
30
31
78
Ringworm
16
27
17
4
64
Mumps
5
3
3
10
21
Ophthalmia
-
5
1
1
7
Eczema, &c.
4
1
-
1
6
76
170
61
145
452
The notifications classified according to the schools from which they
were received were as follows:—
1st
Quarter.
2nd
Quarter.
3rd
Quarter.
4th
Quarter
Total.
Ashburnham
18
35
39
79
171
Cook's Ground
28
31
4
44
107
Marlborough
14
50
9
11
84
Park Wark
3
21
6
5
35
Christ Church
7
21
—
—
28
Hortensia Road
1
6
1
3
11
Holy Trinity
2
—
—
1
3
St. Luke's School
2
—
—
—
2
Servite
—
2
1
—
3
Other Schools outside
Chelsea
1
4
1
2
8
76
170
61
145
452
Owing to information received from the Children's Care Committees,
some action has been taken with regard to verminous children excluded
from schools. The cases were visited in the first instance by the Medical
Officer of Health and the Chief Inspector. Subsequent visits were paid
by me in those cases where further supervision appeared desirable.