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 1909
Fifty-fourth annual report on the health and sanitary condition of the Metropolitan Borough of Islington
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163
1909
NON-NOTIFIABLE INFECTIOUS DISEASES. The number of cases of infectious diseases which are not notifiable under the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, notified by the teachers of the public elementary schools was 4,605, as compared with 4,359 in 1908, 5,829 in 1907, and 829 in 1899, since which year the notifications by teachers have steadily advanced especially since 1905, as shown below:—
| 1899 | 829 | 1904 | 2,425 |
| 1900 | 3,066 | 1905 | 3,397 |
| 1901 | 3.395 | 1906 | 4,135 |
| 1902 | 2,307 | 1907 | 5,829 |
| 1903 | 2,298 | 1908 | 4,359 |
| 1909 | 4,605 | ||
The increase in recent years has been due to the more vigorous administration
at the Education Department of the London County Council. The
principal diseases which the teachers report are Measles, Chicken Pox, and
Whooping Cough, although others, such as Mumps, and cases of skin diseases
of a contagious character, are also notified, as well as children in a verminous
condition.
The number of cases of Measles which came under observation was
1,607, as compared with 1,095 in the preceding year and with 2,005 in 1907.
The returns show that the greatest number of cases occurred in Duncombe
Road Schools, where there were 91 cases, which was followed in turn by
Burghley Road Schools (73 cases), Montem Street Schools (67 cases), Blundell
Street Schools (61 cases), Hungerford Road Schools (56 cases), and other
schools in varying numbers, the least of which was in York Road Schools,
whence only 1 case was notified.
Only 491 cases of Chicken Pox were notified, as compared with 624
in 1908, and 981 in 1907.
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