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 1928
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington Borough]
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45
[1928
THE INFECTIOUS DISEASES IN THE PUBLIC ELEMENTARY
SCHOOLS.
1,072 cases of the notifiable infectious diseases occurred in the Public
Elementary Schools of the Borough, of which 749 were Scarlet Fever and 320
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 | 749 | 722 | +27 |
| Diphtheria | 320 | 434 | —114 |
| Enteric Fever | 3 | 2 | +1 |
| Other Diseases | — | — | — |
| Total | 1,072 | 1,158 | —86 |
Non-Notifiable Diseases.—6,035 cases came to the knowledge of the
Medical Officer of Health during the year, viz.: 3,310 cases of Measles, 997 cases
of Chicken Pox, 483 of Whooping Cough, and 1,245 of other diseases.
The information respecting these cases was received from the teachers of
schools within the borough.
Exclusion of Scholars from Schools.—3,315 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:—
The non-notifiable diseases among children attending the Public Elementary School were:-
| Disease. | Notifications by Teachers. | Average of preceding 10 years. | Increase or Decrease. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Measles | 3,310 | 1,668 | +1,642 |
| Chicken Pox | 997 | 921 | +76 |
| Whooping Cough | 483 | 584 | — 01 |
| *Other Diseases | 1,245 | 2,381 | —1,136 |
| Total | 6,035 | 5,554 | +481 |
*Note.—"Other Diseases " include Mumps, Scabies, Ophthalmia, Itch. etc.
BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS2,650
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
Tuberculosis, Diphtheria and Enteric Fever, respectively.
The number is an increase of 21 on that of the preceding year. It was
also 695 above the decennial average. Of the total examinations, 417, or 15.7
per cent. gave positive results.
Diphtheria.—1,754 specimens were examined for Diphtheria, of which
276, or 15.7 per cent., were found to contain Diphtheria bacilli.
Enteric Fever.—36 specimens of blood were examined, 4 of which gave
negative results.
Tuberculosis—860 specimens of sputum were examined, 137, or 15.9 per
cent., of which showed that the patients were suffering from pulmonary
tuberculosis.