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 1920
Sixty-fifth annual report on the health and sanitary condition of the Metropolitan Borough of Islington
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39
[1920
THE INFECTIOUS DISEASES IN THE PUBLIC ELEMENTARY
SCHOOLS.
1,516 cases of the notifiable infectious diseases occurred in the Public
Elementary Schools of the Borough, of which 791 were Scarlet Fever, 714
Diphtheria, 3 Enteric Fever, and 8 other diseases.
The number of notifications of the several diseases are given below:—
| Disease. | No. of Notifications. | Average of preceding 10 years. | Increase or Decrease. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Pox | — | — | — |
| Scarlet Fever | 791 | 521 | +270 |
| Diphtheria | 714 | 256 | + 458 |
| Enteric Fever | 3 | 5 | -2 |
| Other Diseases | 8 | — | + 8 |
| Total | 1,516 | 782 | + 734 |
Non-Notifiable Diseases.—6,792 cases came to the knowledge of the
Medical Officer of Health during the quarter, viz.:—2,649 cases of Measles,
577 cases of Whooping Cough, 593 of Chicken Pox, and 2,973 of other diseases.
The information respecting these cases was received from the teachers of
60 schools.
Exclusion of Scholars from Schools.—4,671 children were excluded
from classrooms of various schools owing to the presence of an infectious
disease, chiefly Diphtheria and Scarlet Fever, in the houses wherein they lived.
The non-notifiable diseases among children attending the Public Elementary Schools were: —
| Disease. | Notifications by Teachers. | Average of preceding 10 years. | Increase or Decrease. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Measles | 2,649 | 1,444 | +1,205 |
| Chicken Pox | 593 | 825 | -232 |
| Whooping Cough | 577 | 634 | -57 |
| †Other Diseases | 2,973 | 2,322 | +651 |
| 6,792 | 5,225 | + 1,567 |
† Note.—"Other Diseases" include Mumps, Scabies, Ophthalmia, Itch, &c.