View report page

152
1908]
NON-NOTIFIABLE INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
In 4,359 instances infectious diseases which are not notifiable under the
Public Health (London) Act, 1891, were reported to the Medical Officer of
Health by the teachers of the several public elementary schools. They show
a decrease of 1,470 on the return of the preceding year.
This large decrease is probably due to the fact that measles was not so
prevalent as in 1907.
It is exceedingly satisfactory to find that under the London County Council
the head teachers are now notifying cases in much larger numbers than they
did under the late School Board for London, and that the increase in the
notifications has been very perceptible since 1904. These notifications are
exceedingly valuable, not only from a public health point of view, but as
regards the schools themselves, and therefore, when they are received, every
effort is made to prevent the disease both at the homes and in the schools.
During the year 1,095 cases of measles were known in the several schools,
as compared with 2,065 in the preceding year; while of chicken pox 624 cases
were reported, as against 981 in 1907. Whooping cough showed a decrease, for,
whereas 831 cases were known in the preceding year, there were only 385 in
1908. On the other hand, the cases of contagious diseases, such as scabies,
ringworm and the like, numbered 2,254, as contrasted with 1,952 in 1907.
Perhaps it is ungenerous to find fault when so many cases are notified by
the teachers, but it would be a great improvement if earlier information respecting
them could be sent to the Medical Officer of Health than sometimes occurs.
The explanation given is that the fault does not lie with the teachers, who send
the information as soon as they get it, but rather with the attendance officers
who find it difficult to call on all the absentees quickly when many are reported
to them at one time. Of course, allowance has to be made for this, but it would
be very satisfactory if an improvement could be effected.