London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Paddington 1914

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington, Metropolitan Borough of]

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61
ADMINISTRATIVE WORK.
Many other children were specially referred by the School Medical Officer to the Medical
Officer of Health, all of whom were kept under observation and not allowed to resume
attendance at school until certified free from any indications of infectious disease.
Diphtheria.—The attacks of diphtheria in scholars of Provided Schools numbered 74
last year, as compared with 47 in 1913 and 87 in 1912, the ratios per 1,000 scholars being
7.5, 4.7, and 8.7 respectively. There were 64 cases in Non-Provided Schools, giving a ratio of
7.2 per 1,000 scholars. The figures for 1913 and 1912 were 72 (ratio 8.1) and 50 (ratio 5.6)
respectively.
Special inspections with "swabbings" were made at St. John's School, Titchborne Row, in
February. On bacteriological examination, however, each swab gave a negative result.
Forms "M.O. 87 " were received with regard to—
Moberly School, during January, February, and March (one child); Campbell Street School, in
February (one child), in August (one child), and in October (two children); and St. Luke's School,
Fernhead Road, in June (six children), in July (two children), and in September (two children).
Several of the children above referred to were subsequently certified to be suffering with
diphtheria and were removed to hospital.
Measles.—"Unprotected" children were excluded from school on 14 occasions only (see
below), as compared with 73 in 1913 and 89 in 1912.

"Unprotected" Children Excluded: Measles.

SchoolExclusion,SchoolExclusion,
(Infants' Department).Class-room.Date of.Duration of.(Infants' Department).Class-room.Date of.Duration of.
Holy TrinityKFeb. 911 daysMoberlyCMay 2115 days
Westmoreland Rd. R. C.C„ 1618 „Nov. 309 „
St. SaviourA„ 2410 „WilberforceC„ 254 „
Apr. 2711 „Kilburn LaneCJune 2211 „
CDec. 79 „DJuly 913 „
Amberley RoadGMay 418 „St. PaulJNov. 119 „
Beethoven StreetF„ 209 ,,HDec. 34 „

Sore Throat.—Three hundred and one attacks of sore throat among children attending
school were reported during the year. In 1913 the number was 326, and in 1912, 377. The
ratios of attacks among children attending the Provided Schools were 26.0 per 1,000 in 1914,
23.6 in 1913, and 33.8 in 1912, and among those attending the Non-Provided Schools 51, 10.9,
and 5.0 respectively. (See Table 42.)

The seasonal distribution of the cases reported during the past three years is shown below:—

Jan.Feb.Mch.Apr.May.June.July.Aug.Sept.Oct.Nov.Dec.
191450732113231771417274111
191312428102144133111
1912829098301018143618236

Of the children reported last year, 5 were ultimately certified to have diphtheria and
1 scarlet fever.
Ringworm.—Two hundred and thirty-five children were excluded from school last year for
this complaint, as compared with 205 in 1913 and 287 in 1912. The ratios of exclusions in
Provided Schools were 13.1 in 1914, 11.5 in 1913, and 16.8 in 1912 per 1,000 scholars, and in
the Non-Provided Schools, 11.8 in 1914, 10.3 in 1913, and 13.6 in 1912. The school distribution
is given in Table 42. 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.—The exclusions last year numbered 74, being 19 more than in 1913, and 28 more
than in 1912. The attacks reported from the Provided Schools were at the rate of 3.1 per 1,000
scholars, as compared with 2.2 in 1913 and 3.3 in 1912. In the Non-Provided Schools the ratios
were 4.6, 3.7, and 1.4 respectively. All the reported cases were visited by the Inspectors, the
parents pressed to obtain proper treatment, and the bedding and personal clothing stoved
whenever consent could be obtained.