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101
In 1919, in the fifth to seventh weeks, the temperature was also just below
freezing-point.
From the Annual Report for 1921 (vol III., p. 44), where a diagram is given
showing the weekly mortality from whooping-cough since 1890, it will be seen that
the years which standout from all others as years of high mortality are 1892,1896
and 1918, while 1894 and 1920 are also conspicuous. These are the years which,
as stated above, have followed winters in which there were periods of more or lees
prolonged cold weather.
The year of greatest mortality from whooping-cough in London was 1882,
when the deaths numbered 4,647. The winter of the year preceding was memorable
for its exceptional severity.
It does not appear consistently that a severe winter has a moderating effect
upon current prevalence of whooping-cough: increase at any rate in the mortality
from whooping-cough in the year following a severe winter is more consistently
found, and the question as to the reason for this association is deserving of
examination.
In a study of the prevalence of whooping-cough in Amsterdam by Dr. B. H.
Sajet and J. V. Gerderen, it is remarked that the attack rate upon the first-born
(or only child) is lower than that recorded for the second and third children. The
favourable condition for the first-born or only child apparently becomes more
pronounced with rise in the social scale. It was found that the death-rate among
non-Jewish children was about three-and-a-half times that recorded for Jewish
children, the comparison being made for both poorer and better quarters of
Amsterdam. Children of poorer social class were found to be attacked earlier.
and the better class later; thus while among the former less than 10 per cent, were
attacked over 5 years of age among the latter the attack rate was 35 per cent.
Examination of Candidates.
Including some who attended for their first examination in the previous year,
the number of candidates submitting themselves for examination during the year
was 5,546. The total number of examinations was 6,566. The candidates may
be classified as (a) candidates for entrance to the permanent service; (b) candidates
for the award of scholarships.
The total number of candidates examined was 623 (227 males and 396 females), Candidates
but of these candidates 11 attended for their first examination in the previous year. for permanent service.
There were however 715 examinations (257 males and 458 females); in 112 cases
(38 males and 74 females) a second or third examination was necessary. Of the
number thus referred, remedial treatment was satisfactorily obtained in 99 cases;
2 were rejected; 3 withdrew their applications; and 8 were still under consideration
at the end of the year. The total number of rejections was 17. The reasons for
rejection were: vision 6; heart 1; miscellaneous 10.
The scholarships and awards granted by the Council fall into three divisions, Candidates
each of which requires different treatment in so far as the medical examination for the award of
of candidates is concerned, (a) County scholarships enabling candidates to proceed schorlarships.
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.
The total number of candidates examined was 4,923; these include 8 who
attended for their first examination in the previous year. There were, however,
5,851 examinations, the excess being due to the fact that in 911 cases a second
or third examination was necessary; 851 obtained satisfactory treatment and
were on re-examination certified as fit. 121 candidates were found to be unfit;
of these 3 were rejected for two defects each; 105 were rejected as the result of their
first examination and 16 as the result of subsequent examinations. The reasons