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 1917
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington, Metropolitan Borough of]
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20
1917]
THE INFECTIOUS DISEASES IN THE PUBLIC ELEMENTARY
SCHOOLS.
2,317 cases of the notifiable infectious diseases occurred in the Public
Elementary Schools of the Borough, of which 210 were Scarlet Fever, 248
Diphtheria, 1,828 Measles, and 1 other disease.
The number of notifications of the several diseases are given below :—
| Disease. | No. of Notifications. | Average of preceding 10 years. | Decrease or Increase. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scarlet Fever | 240 | 619 | 379 |
| Diphtheria | 248 | 243 | + 5 |
| Enteric Fever | — | 10 | - 10 |
| *Measles | 1,828 | — | — |
| Other Diseases | 1 | — | + 1 |
| Total | 2,317 |
* N.B.—Measles only became a notifiable disease from 1st January, 1916.
Non-Notifiable Diseases.—3,028 cases came to the knowledge of the
Medical Officer of Health during the quarter, viz. :—435 cases of Whooping
Cough, 586 of Chicken Pox, and 2,007 cases of other diseases.
The information respecting these cases was received from the teachers of
57 schools.
Exclusion of Scholars from Schools.—1,684 children were excluded
from classrooms of various schools owing to the presence of an infectious
disease, chiefly Diphtheria, in the houses wherein they lived.
Non-notifiable diseases among children attending the Public Elementary Schools :—
| Disease. | Notifications by Teachers. | Average of preceding 10 years. | Increase or Decrease. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken Pox | 586 | 823 | -237 |
| Whooping Cough. | 435 | 683 | -248 |
| Other Diseases | 2,007 | 2,282 | — 275 |
| 3,028 | 3,788 | -760 |
Note.—" Other Diseases " include Mumps, Scabies, Sore Eyes, Itch, &c.