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1935] 46
Non - Notifiable Diseases.—3,760 cases came to the knowledge of the
Medical Officer of Health during the year, viz., 99 cases of Measles, 718 cases
of Chicken-poxi 805 of Whooping Cough, and 2,138 of other diseases.
The information respecting these cases was received from the teachers of
schools within the borough.
Exclusion of Scholars from Schools.—2,753 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 :—
Notifications Average of Increase
Disease. by Teachers. preceding 10 years. or Decrease.
Measles 99 1,793 —1,694
Chicken-pox 718 1,038 — 320
Whooping Cough 05 593 + 212
•Other Diseases 2,138 1,786 + 352
Total 3,760 5,210 —1,450
* Note.—"Other Diseases " include Mumps, Scabies, Ophthalmia, etc.
Scheme of Measles Control.—In co-operation with the School Medical
Officer of the London County Council, early intimation is obtained where possible
of children absent from school during times of measles outbreaks. The parents
of such children as are suspected of having the disease, or where the disease is
known to exist, receive a special circular from the Public Health Department drawing
attention to the initial symptoms of measles, and the fact that measles should always
be treated as a serious disease, especially in young children. Attention is drawn
to the removal of the seriously ill to hospital and to the Borough Council's Health
Department arrangements for nursing attendance in the home in special cases.
Chickenpox, Rubella (" German" Measles), and Mumps.—In
these diseases where either owing to the home conditions or the severity of the
disease there is need for hospital treatment, cases since April have had hospital
treatment afforded them on the recommendation of the Medical Officer of Health.
BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS.
Examinations numbering 2,550 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 a deciease of 205 on that of the preceding year and 294 below
the decennial average. Of the total examinations, 370, or 14.5 per cent., gave
positive results.
Tuberculosis.—532 specimens of sputum were examined, 74, or 13.9 per
cent., of which showed that the patients were suffering from pulmonary tubereulosis.
These are in addition to routine examinations at the two Tuberculosis Dispensaries.
Diphtheria.—2,003 specimens were examined for Diphtheria, of which 293
or 14.6 per cent., were found to be " positive."
Enteric Fever.—15 specimens of blood were examined, 3 of which gave
positive results.