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have been temporarily withdrawn from their ordinary work of personal hygiene and
medical inspection during measles epidemics to the detriment of these important and
essential services, and there is no doubt that the health services of the metropolitan
boroughs have been similarly hampered during such epidemics, although it is the
•custom in certain boroughs to appoint additional temporary nurses or health visitors
for this purpose. In view of the fact that measles is a disease both of school and preschool
age, although more dangerous to the latter class, the campaign against measles
is the dual concern of the Council, as local education authority and of the several
metropolitan borough councils, and in future epidemics the utmost resources of these
public health services should be utilised in combating the disease.
In 10 boroughs measles is a notifiable disease, with the approval of the Minister
of Health, who only confirms such local Order if he is satisfied that proper arrangements
have been made to "follow-up" cases of measles as they are notified, and to
take such steps as are necessary with a view to the prevention of mortality and
complications arising from the disease. In these boroughs the medical officer of
health may desire to make his own arrangements without special assistance from
the Council's school organisation.
The next epidemic is due about the end of 1927, and the public health services
of London should be prepared for the emergency when it arrives. For this purpose
the Council is prepared to co-operate in the closest possible manner with the local
sanitarv authorities through the school organisation.
Whooping
cough.
There was a decline in the prevalence of whooping cough in the schools during the
first ten months of the year, but during November and December the disease became
somewhat more prevalent. The numbers of cases reported during the year were
5,534, as compared with 12,795 in 1925, 8,404 (1924), 7,304 (1923), 10,340 (1922).
The school nurses visited 18 of the affected schools from time to time for the purpose
of examining the children and advisinc the head teachers.
Ringworm
and favus.
The decline in the number of cases of ringworm referred to in previous annual
reports has been maintained. The careful supervision exercised by the school
nurses is responsible for the early diagnosis of the disease and the prejudice of the
parents against the application of X-ray treatment has now practically disappeared.
A comparative table showing the results achieved in the years 1911 to 1926 is included
in the section on the work of the school nurses (page 93). Allowing for the fact
that a number of cases are unsuitable for X-ray treatment the percentage of
cases treated and cures effected by this means is now highly satisfactory.
During 1926, 1,950 specimens of hair stumps were examined in the Council's
laboratory and of these 673 contained ringworm fungus and 18 proved to be favus.
8 fresh cases of favus were discovered during the year and 12 cases reported in
1925 remained uncured at the beginning of 1926. Of these 15 were cured and the
remaining five were still under treatment at the end of the year.
Chicken pox.
The number of cases of chicken-pox occurring in London still remains high,
12,769 cases being reported from the schools during the year as compared with
17,583 in 1925, 11,826 (1924), 13,849 (1923), 8,213 (1922). The school nurses
visited 104 schools specially affected for the purpose of examining the children and
advising the head teachers.
Mumps.
11,897 cases of mumps were reported as occurring amongst school children during
1926 as compared with 9,161 in 1925, 15,424 (1924), 7,916 (1923), 4,207 (1922).
The school nurses visited from time to time 129 schools which were specially
affected.
Ophthalmia
(blight,
infective
conjunctivitis).
A further decline occurred in the number of cases of eye disease reported from the
schools during the year, the number of children affected being 606 as compared with
882 in 1925, 1,101 (1924), 1,881 (1923), 801 (1922). The districts mostly affected
during the years were the east end of London (Shoreditch, Bethnal Green, Stepney
and Poplar), 211 cases, and Bermondsey, 108 cases.