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 1921
Sixty-sixth annual report on the health and sanitary condition of the Metropolitan Borough of Islington
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1921] 26
THE INFECTIOUS DISEASES IN THE PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
2,432 cases of the notifiable infectious diseases occurred in the Public Elementary
Schools of the Borough, of which 1,653 were Scarlet Fever, and 779 Diphtheria.
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 | 1,653 | 563 | + 1,090 |
| Diphtheria | 779 | 308 | + 471 |
| Enteric Fever | - | 4 | — 4 |
| Other Diseases | - | 1 | — 1 |
| Total | 2,432 | 876 | + 1,556 |
Non-Notifiable Diseases.— 5,782 cases came to the knowledge of the Medical
Officer of Health during the quarter, viz.: 617 cases of Measles, 955 cases of Chicken
Pox, 687 of Whooping Cough, and 3,523 of other diseases.
The information respecting these cases was received from the teachers of 60 schools.
Exclusion of Scholars from Schools.— 6,971 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 | 617 | 1,490 | - 873 |
| Chicken Pox | 955 | 785 | + 70 |
| Whooping Cough | 687 | 602 | + 85 |
| † Other Diseases | 3,523 | 2,419 | + 1,104 |
| 5,782 | 5,296 | + 386 |
† Note.—"Other Diseases" include Mumps, Scabies, Ophthalmia, Itch, etc.
BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS.
1,777 examinations were made for the medical profession of the sputum, of swabs from
the throat and of the blood of patients suspected to be suffering from Phthisis, Diphtheria
and Enteric Fever, respectively.
This number is an increase of 358 on that of the preceding year. It is also 687 above
the decennial average.
Diphtheria.—1,207 specimens were examined for Diphtheria, of which 238, or 19.7
per cent., were found to contain Diphtheria bacilli.
Enteric Fever.—22 specimens of blood were examined, of which only 3, or 13 per
cent., gave positive results.
Phthisis.—548 specimens of sputum were examined, 127, or 23 per cent., of which
showed that the patients were suffering from this disease.