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In 1923 ringworm continued to decline, 2,322 fresh cases having been discovered Ringworm
and reported during the year as compared with 2,766 (1922), 3,473 (1921) and 3,983 and Favus.
(1920). At the end of 1923 over 705 of the known cases remained uncured, as
compared with 818 and 999 at the end of 1922 and 1921 respectively. The proportion
of cases cured by X-ray treatment at the Council's centres was 69 per cent.;
in 1922 the percentage was 65 and in 1921 was 60. During the twelve months
2,842 hair specimens were examined in the Council's laboratory, of which 1,332
(including re-examinations) proved to contain ringworm fungus. Only two fresh
cases of favus were discovered during the year.
In the course of a prevalence around London of smallpox imported from Spain Smallpox,
during the autumn of the year, and comprising some 18 cases, one school child,
viz., an unvaccinated boy of 12 years attending a Greenwich school, contracted
the disease. Appropriate measures were taken to prevent spread of the disease
and no other children became infected.
Vaccinations of school children with the consent of the parents were carried
out by public vaccinators in five schools in the affected areas, (two in Camberwell,
one in Greenwich, one in Battersea and one in Hackney); 599 children were vaccinated
by these arrangements (327 primary vaccinations and 272 re-vaccinations).
Chickenpox was more than usually prevalent during 1923, 13,849 cases having Chickenpox.
been reported as occurring among children attending the Council's schools, as compared
with 8,213 in 1922 and 9.811 in 1921. School nurses specially visited 205
schools for the purpose of excluding suspicious cases and of advising head teachers
generally as to the symptoms and means of prevention. The number of schools
visited each term was as follows:—Spring term 41, summer term 109, and
autumn and winter terms 55 schools.
The number of cases of mumps reported among school children was 7,916 as Mumps.
compared with 4,207 in 1922 and 13,317 in 1921. Although the disease was not so
prevalent as in 1921, the east end of London was badly affected, particularly Poplar
and the Isle of Dogs where the disease persisted for some time. School nurses
visited 125 schools to enquire into the prevalence of mumps and to advise head
teachers as to measures of control.
There was a very noticeable increase in the prevalence of ophthalmia in the Ophthalmia.
London schools during 1923, 1,881 cases having been reported compared with 801
in 1922 and 466 in 1921. The prevalence was most marked in Shoreditch and the
east end, especially the former, where special measures had to be taken to combat
the disease. The outbreak was suppressed after persistent visitation of the homes
and schools by the nurses and by prompt treatment and supervision of returning cases. Residential
The health of the children in the Council's residential schools was satisfactory and industhroughout
the year and the infectious illness records at these schools do not call trial schools.
for special comment; the few cases of infection which occurred were isolated and
there was no spread.
Mortality among Children under 15 Years of Age.
The following tables show for England and Wales and for London the mortality
among children under 15 years of age in five-year age periods, in eight successive
decennia.