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144
Measles is most dangerous during the second and third year of life and is a disease
from which children should be protected as far as possible up to at least five years of
age, the compulsory age of school attendance, and if attacked, should receive skilled
medical or nursing attention.
As an indication of the success with which the problem of mortality from measles
has been combated by public health authorities in London in recent years the following
table is quoted as indicating that whilst the incidence of the disease has remained
more or less stationary, the number of deaths has progressively declined during the
past twenty years and especially in the last decade. As measles is only notifiable
in ten London boroughs and then only in a limited capacity, no statistics can be given
of the number of cases occurring in the whole population, but the cases reported
among school children, as shown in the table, may be taken as a reflex of the general
incidence for purposes of comparison.
Quinquennium.
No. of cases reported
nmong school children.
No. of deaths
(all ages).
1908-12 116,921 10,197
1913-17 112,185 8,040
1918-22 110,650 4,818
1923-27 117,151 3,170
Whooping
cough.
The number of cases of whooping cough reported from the schools during the
year was 8,387 as compared with 5,534 in 1926. The incidence in preceding years
will be found in the table on page 134. More than half the total cases for the year
occurred in the period January to March. The school nurses visited seventeen schools
where outbreaks occurred for the purpose of observation and of advising head teachers.
Chiokenpox.
There was a considerable rise in the number of cases of chickenpox reported as
occurring among school children during 1927, namely 17,358 cases as compared
with 12,769 in 1926. Figures for previous years will be found in the table on page 134.
The prevalence of this disease necessitated the school nurses visiting 154 schools
for the purpose of examining the children and giving advice.
Mumps.
13,876 cases of mumps were reported by head teachers during the year as
compared with 11,897 in 1926 (see table on page 134). This disease has been more
than usually prevalent during the past four years, 50,410 cases having been reported
as compared with 33,829 in the preceding four years 1920-23. During the year
160 schools were visited by school nurses in connection with the prevalence of the
disease.
Ophthalmia.
The continuous decline of cases of ophthalmia among school children is eloquent
of the useful work which is being carried out in connection with the medical treatment
of minor ailments in school children. Only 492 cases were reported during the year
as compared with 606 in 1926, 882 (1925), 1,101 (1924) and 1,881 (1923).
The disease was most prevalent in Bermondsey where 107 out of a total of 492
for all schools were reported. Poplar had 68 cases, Stepney 57, Islington 43,
Lambeth 48, Bethnal Green 29 and Shoreditch 21.
Ringworm
and favus.
Ringworm continues to decline as will be noted in the table below.
Year.
Fresh cases.
Cured cases.
Cases outstanding
at the
end of the year.
Percentage of cures
effected by X-ray
treatment.
1911
6,214
5,872
2,458
30
1912
5,311
5,131
2,204
37
1913
5,573
5,257
2,277
44
1914
4,449
4,904
1,638
50
1915
3,747
3,928
1,334
47
1916
3,115
3,081
1,232
51
1917
2,814
2,964
992
53
1918
2,639
2,555
979
51
1919
3,447
3,103
1,259
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