View report page

102
ADMINISTRATIVE WORK.
Sore Throat.—Absence from school attributed to sore throat when not medically certified
is looked upon with suspicion, the degree thereof depending on the season of the year and the
prevalence of scarlet fever and diphtheria. In 1912, 377 attacks of sore throat were reported
among children attending school, while last year the number fell to 326. The ratios of attacks
among children attending the Provided Schools were 23 6 per 1,000 in 1913 and 33.8 in 1912,
and among those attending the Non-Provided Schools 10 9 and 5'0. An analysis of the reported
cases, according to departments, is given in the first section of Table 55. The numbers reported
from the different schools fluctuated irregularly, but—in general terms—they followed a distribution
corresponding to those of scarlet fever and diphtheria. (See Table 54.)

The concurrence of excessive prevalence of "sore throats" with that of scarlet fever and
diphtheria (see chart facing page 104) is significant. Of the 309 children excluded during the
four months September-December, 20 (6.4 per cent.) were ultimately certified to have an
infectious illness, viz., in 9 instances scarlet fever and 11 others diphtheria.
Ringworm.—The exclusions last year numbered 205, as compared with 287 in 1912. The
ratios of exclusions in Provided Schools were 115 in 1913 and 16.8 in 1912 per 1,000 scholars,
and in the Non-Provided Schools, 10 3 in 1913 and 13.6 in 1912. The school distribution is
given in Table 55. No action was taken during the past year by the Department with reference
to reported cases, but the school nurses kept them under close supervision.
Scabies.—Fifty-five children were excluded in 1913, being 9 more than in 1912. The attacks
reported from the Provided Schools were at the rate of 2.2 per 1,000 scholars and those in NonProvided
3.7. In 1912 the corresponding ratios were 3.3 and 1.4 respectively. All reported
cases were visited by the Women Inspectors, the parents pressed to obtain proper treatment, and
bedding and personal clothing stoved whenever consent could be obtained.
Other Complaints.—The causes included under this head are very various and all comparatively
trifling. The 151 children excluded last year shows a considerable increase from the total
of 52 recorded in 1912. In the Provided Schools the ratio was 7.2 per 1,000 (1.6 in 1912) and in
the Non-Provided 9.1 (4.1 in 1912). The increases here noted were probably the result of more
complete reporting by the school teachers rather than increased morbidity.
Vermin.—In 1912,319 children were reported dirty and verminous; last year the figure rose to
434. In the Provided Schools the ratio was 25.4 per 1,000 last year and 179 in 1912; in the
Non-Provided, 21.1 and 16.0. The Department co-operates with the Education Officers by
visiting the homes with a view to taking action as to dirty and verminous conditions existing
therein. Use is made of the new by-laws relating to cleanliness of rooms and bedding and also
of the "Verminous Provisions" of the London County Council (General Powers), Act 1904.
The Council has resolved to erect a cleansing (or disinfesting) station in connection with one
of the branch public baths to be erected in the Borough. At the close of the year the actual site
had not been decided, but there was every indication that a settlement would be arrived at in the
near future.
INTERNOTIFICATION.—-There is a complete system of interchange of information as to
cases of infectious disease with the Medical Officers of Health of the areas circumjacent to the
Borough. Separate records are not kept of the cases sent to those Officers. Last year the
"inward" exchanges received related to 597 cases of various diseases, as compared with 610 in