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the schools was first noticed in the middle of October, 1923, and just prior to Christmas,
1,000 cases were being reported weekly ; in February, this figure had reached
2,000, and it remained at about that level for eight weeks. The special scheme
providing for close co-operation between the nursing service, attendance officers
and the local sanitary authorities, described in the Annual Report for 1919 (vol. III.,
p. 85), was put into operation in January, with the following results :—
(1) Schools visited by nurses 685
(2) Hours devoted to work 4,922
(3) Definite cases of measles discovered to be in attendance at school and reported
direct to the Borough Medical Officer 212
(4) Suspicious cases discovered in school and excluded by the nurse 1,727
(5) Suspicious cases referred to in (4) which subsequently proved to be measles 1,207
(6) Doubtful absentees reported to school attendance authorities for immediate visitation 14,327
(7) Absentees under (6) who proved to be suffering from measles 3,275
The reports of the school nurses enabled the borough medical officers of health
to arrange for the health visitor to follow up cases of measles, particularly in the
younger ages, and to put into operation the borough scheme of nursing provision
where necessary at the earliest possible moment. It would appear that as pointed
out in the Annual Report for 1923 (vol. III., p. 94), the operation of this special
scheme had some effect in flattening the curve of incidence.
Whooping
cough.
The number of cases of whooping cough reported during 1924, was 8,404, as
compared with the following figures for preceding years :—7,304 (1923), 10,340
(1922), 9,584 (1921), 8,779 (1920), 3,397 (1919) and 11,671 (1918). There was
a noticeable prevalence of the disease in the autumn and winter terms. The
school nurses specially visited 30 schools with the object of assisting head teachers
in controlling outbreaks.
Ringworm
and favus.
Une of the most satisfactory teatures of the activities of the school medical
and nursing service has been the success in the prevention of ringworm
among elementary school children in recent years. This success may be ascribed
to a twofold cause, namely the efficiency with which new cases are promptly discovered
by the school nurses and the increasing percentage of cases which are
treated by means of X-rays. In 1911, when 6,214 fresh cases were discovered,
only 30 per cent, received X-ray treatment and this percentage has progressively
increased year by year until, in 1924, as many as 70 per cent, of the cases were
X-rayed. The popular prejudice against this treatment, which is the only known
cure, has been very largely overcome and the result is shown in the reduction in the
incidence of the disease. Another very great advantage of X-ray treatment is the
avoidance of much loss of school attendance, for whereas a child treated in this
way should ordinarily be able to return to school in two months or less, children
receiving ointment and other forms of treatment may be away from school for years
to the detriment of their whole career in life
Ringworm.
Year.
Fresh cases.
Cured cases.
Cases outstanding at the
end of the year.
1911 6,214 5,872 2,458
1912 5,311 5,131 2,204
1913 5,573 5,257 2,277
1914 4,449 4,904 1,638
1915 3,747 3,928 1,334
1916 3,115 3,081 1,232
1917 2,814 2,964 992
1918 2,639 2,555 979
1919 3,447 3,103 1,259
1920 3,983 3,856 1,332
1921 3,473 3,765 999
1922 2,766 2,918 818
1923 2,322 2,395 705
1924 1,724 1,924 482