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been arrested, and then only on the receipt of a further medical certificate stating broadly that the
improvement in the general and local physical condition had been maintained, that the teacher was
free from all signs of active tuberculosis, and was likely to be able to render permanent service as a
teacher. It was considered that some of the teachers who had been suffering from tuberculosis were
fit for duty before the expiration of the six months specified, and it was pointed out that many cases
would probably occur in which, while waiting for this period to elapse, a condition of affairs might be
occasioned favourable to the production of a relapse, inasmuch as there was a possibility that sick pay
as allowed under the Council's scale might be exhausted, and it was desirable that the teacher should
be free from financial worry, and be able to make provision for good nourishing food. It was, therefore,
suggested to the Board that in such cases, where the Council's medical officer was of opinion that
the teacher was fit for duty, employment might be given at one of the Council's open-air schools for
tuberculous children, pending the expiration of the period in question. The Board approved of the
suggestion, and are prepared to reckon such teachers on the staff of an open-air school, or a school
specially recognised for tuberculous cases, but are not prepared to relax the general rule 83 far as to
permit of a return to work in an ordinary school.
Applications have been received from teachers for exceptional treatment as regards sick pay
in respect of sickness alleged to be due to the peculiar war conditions under which they were required
to carry out their duties. There is no doubt that owing to the absence on service of many male members
of the teaching staff, and the effect of air raids in certain neighbourhoods, the conditions have been of
a more harassing nature than those which obtained before the war, but it would be unreasonable to
maintain that these conditions were generally more harassing than those endured by the remainder of
the civil population Each case was, therefore, dealt with strictlv on its individual merits.
War
conditions
and school
work
The medical examination of candidates for the Council's scholarships serves a triple purpose.
It prevents unsuitable scholars from taking up awards; it is a factor in promoting the health and wellbeing
of suitable scholars by insisting on the remedying of remediable defects; and it safeguards the
Council against pecuniary loss due to the payment of grants to scholars who are physically unfit to take
advantage of a scholarship, and whose ultimate breakdown is but a matter of time.
Scholarships
and candidates
for the
teaching
profession
The scholarships and awards granted by the Council fall into three divisions, each of which
requires different treatment in so far as the medical examination of the candidates is concerned. These
divisions are as follows :—
(a) County scholarships enabling candidates to proceed to institutions of university
rank.
(b) Technical scholarships enabling candidates to receive instruction in trades; and
special scholarships.
(c) Awards enabling candidates to prepare for the teaching profession.
Two additional types of award are included in the figures for the year, viz., under class (b) juvenile
war scholarships and under class (c) awards to ex-service men. Juvenile war scholarships are awarded
to workers of the age of 16 years who, up to the time of the armistice, were employed on war work,
particularly in engineering and allied industries ; the scholarships being awarded to enable such workers
to complete their knowledge in their particular branch of industry. The awards for ex-service men
were to enable them to enter a training college with a view to taking up the teaching profession.
The total number of candidates examined was 5,244, but there were 6,862 examinations, the excess
being due to the fact that in 1,497 cases a second or third examination was necessary. Of the number
thus referred, 1,335, or 89 percent, obtained satisfactory treatment, and were on re-examination
certified as fit. Of the 112 candidates who were unfit, 61 were rejected as the result of their first
examination, and 51 as the result of a subsequent examination. The reasons for rejection were
Defective vision, 49 ; unsatisfactory personal hygiene, 14; unsatisfactory general health, 10; tuberculosis,
2; unsatisfactory condition of heart, 4; miscellaneous, 33.
Infectious diseases.
During 1919, 5,574 cases of scarlet fever occurred among children attending public elementary
schools in London, as compared with 2,772 in the year 1918, and 228 special investigations were
conducted at schools by the Council's medical staff for the purpose of combating the spread of the
disease. School closure was not resorted to on a single occasion.
The diagram, on the opposite page, illustrates the annual fluctuations of incidence in London of
scarlet fever, diphtheria, measles and whooping cough.
Scarlet fever
During the year 1919, 3,365 cases of diphtheria occurred among children attending public;
elementary schools in London, as compared with 2,910 in the preceding year, and 116 special investigations
were conducted at schools by the Council's medical staff for controlling spread of the disease. At
these investigations 2,924 throat, nose and ear specimens were cultivated and examined in the laboratory;
of these, 468 cultures were found to contain diphtheria bacilli, whilst in 262 cases organisms suspicious
of Klebs Loeffler bacilli were isolated; the remainder gave negative results. No school closures were
necessary.
Diphtheria
The enquiries made in previous years with regard to the relation between flea prevalence and scarlet
fever prevalence were continued in 1919 with results confirmatory, on the whole, of those already obtained.
The diagram on page 84, brings up to date the diagram published last year. It shows, when two
differing methods of presenting the facts are exhibited, a much closer similarity in the contours of the
flea and scarlet fever prevalences than is to be found in the contours of flea and diphtheria
prevalence.
55580 L