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 1918
Sixty-third annual report on the health and sanitary condition of the Metropolitan Borough of Islington
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22
1918]
THE INFECTIOUS DISEASES IN THE PUBLIC ELEMENTARY
SCHOOLS.
1,545 cases of the notifiable infectious diseases occurred in the Public
Elementary Schools of the Borough, of which 228 were Scarlet Fever, 194
Diphtheria and 1,123 Measles.
The number of notifications of the several diseases are given below:—
| Disease. | No. of Notifications. | Average of preceding 10 years. | Decrease. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scarlet Fever | 228 | 582 | 354 |
| Diphtheria | 194 | 246 | 52 |
| Enteric Fever | — | 8 | — |
| * Measles | 1,123 | — | — |
| Total | 1,545 |
* N.B.—Measles only became a notifiable disease from 1st January, 1916.
Non-Notifiable Diseases.—3,484 cases came to the knowledge of the
Medical Officer of Health during the quarter, viz.:—742 cases of Whooping
Cough, 917 of Chicken Pox, and 1,825 cases of other diseases.
The information respecting these cases was received from the teachers of
57 schools.
Exclusion of Scholars from Schools.—1,524 children were excluded
from classrooms of various schools owing to the presence of an infectious
disease, chiefly Diphtheria, in the houses wherein they lived.
Non-notifiable diseases among children attending the Public Elementary Schools:—
| Disease. | Notifications by Teachers. | Average of preceding 10 years. | Increase or Decrease. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken Pox | 917 | 783 | + 134 |
| Whooping Cough | 742 | 644 | + 98 |
| Other Diseases | 1,825 | 2,287 | -462 |
| 3,484 | 3,714 | -230 |
Note.—"Other Diseases" include Mumps, Scabies, Sore Eyes, Itch, &c.