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101
During the year 2,694 specimens of hair stumps were examined in the Council's
laboratory and of these 1,191 (including re-examinations) proved to contain ringworm
fungus. 10 fresh cases of favus were discovered during 1924 and 3 cases reported
in 1923 remained uncured at the beginning of the year. Of these cases 6 have been
cured and the remaining 7 are still under treatment.
The prevalence of chickenpox among London school children during the past two
years has been very marked. During 1924, some 11,826 cases were reported, the
disease being most prevalent during the period October to December. The number of
cases reported in the preceding five years were 13,849 (1923), 8,213 (1922), 9,811
(1921), 8,506 (1920) and 7,593 (1919). The school nurses specially visited 92
schools where outbreaks occurred in order to advise head teachers.
Chickenpox.
Mumps was prevalent in the schools throughout the year with the exception
of a quiescent period during September and October. The greatest incidence
occurred during the first four months. Altogether 15,424 cases were reported.
The numbers in the preceding five years were 7,916 (1923), 4,207 (1922), 13,317
(1923), 8,389 (1922) and 6,925 (1921). The school nurses visited 160 schools where
outbreaks of the disease occurred with a view to giving any necessary advice to
head teachers.
Mumps.
Ihe incidence of ophthalmia among school children, noticeably high in
declined in 1924, 1,101 cases having been reported as compared with 1,881 in 1923,
801 (1922), and 466 (1921).
Ophthalmia.
Ihe disease called trachoma is one from which the London school population
is generally free. It is one of the chief causes of blindness in many foreign countries.
About half-a-dozen cases have come to light annually during the past twenty years,
generally in connection with the alien population in the east end of London. Early
in 1924 an unusual number of absences on account of external eye disease were
noticed in the riverside parts of Poplar and Stepney. Some of these children were
examined by Mr. Bishop Harman, who discovered that most were suffering from
early trachoma. Thereupon all the cases were followed up, and it soon became
apparent that there was a spread of the disease unprecedented in recent years.
Fortunately the Metropolitan Asylums Board was able to receive the children
into its schools at Swanley, special arrangements being made by which all cases
diagnosed as trachoma should be admitted with a minimum of delay. The course
of the outbreak is illustrated by the number of children seen at the County Hall
with trachoma :—January, none ; February, none ; March, 17 ; April, 34 ; May,
51 ; June, 36 ; July, 51; August, 2 ; September, 4 ; October, 4 ; November, 10 ;
December, 6 ; total 215 cases. The fact that most of these were promptly received
by the Board into Swanley probably prevented a much wider spread of the disease
which was confined to the original area.
Trachoma.
During 1923 and the early part of 1924 there was an unusual prevalence
of simple conjunctivitis all over London. It seems probable that the trachoma was
enabled to spread bv being grafted upon cases of simple coniunctivitis.
Conjunctivitis.
During 1924 several small outbreaks of infectious illness were reported
from the Council's residential schools. Mayford School and Bushy Camp School
were somewhat affected by mild cases of diphtheria, referred to on pp. 95 and 97.
There was a slight outbreak of measles at Bayners Deaf School, Penn, Bucks,
involving only six cases, whilst at Upton House Deaf School, Homerton, 24 cases of
mumps and tonsilitis occurred in the early part of the year. A small outbreak of
mumps affecting 8 children was also reported from Linden Lodge Blind School.
Apart from these occurrences the condition of health of the children at the
residential schools as regards infectious illness does not call for Special comment.
Residential
schools.
The diphtheria attack-rate in London during 1924 was 2.3 per thousand population
; in 1923 the rate was also 2.3, and in 1922 it was 3.4, while for the ten years
1911-20 the average was 2.0. The attack-rate in London is still considerably greater
Infectious
disease : incidence
and
mortality in
London.