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6
With regard to infectious diseases, scarlet fever was very prevalent—more so
than in any year since 1921. The incidence of smallpox was fortunately smaller
and the disease was still of the mild type.
It is difficult in a report from which all minor matters have been excluded to
pick out for special mention the salient features. Apart from those referred to above
the most important would, however, appear to be:—
(i) Medical inspection rooms (p. 8).
(ii) Alteration in the age groups to be subjected to routine inspection (p. 10).
(iii) Standard dietary for the residential schools (p 68).
(iv) Report on mental conditions of the offspring of known mentally
defectives (p. 79).
(v) Diphtheria immunisation in the residential schools (p. 55).
The report is rather longer than that of last year, not only because of the special
reports which it has been necessary to include, but also because an endeavour has
been made to deal with all the points on which the Board of Education in their
circular containing "Suggestions for the arrangement of Annual Reports by School
Medical Officers" have expressed a desire for information.
In closing this introductory statement it is my melancholy duty to refer to the
deaths of two of the divisional medical officers, Dr. E. E. Argles and Dr. F. C. Lewis,
who were in charge of the south-western and northern divisions respectively. Both
supplemented their official work by taking an active part in voluntary efforts to
promote the welfare of the children in their divisions, and they are sorely missed,
not only by their colleagues, but by wide circles of social workers.
Staff.
The public health department is organised in three branches, (i) special hospitals
including control of the acute infectious diseases and of the ambulance service;
(ii) general hospitals and district medical work transferred from the late London
poor-law guardians; and (iii) general public health administration including housing
and the school medical service. A principal medical officer is in charge of each of
the three branches, viz. (i) special hospitals, etc., Dr. J. A. H. Brincker; (ii) general
hospitals and public assistance medical administration, etc., Dr. W. Brander; and
(iii) general public health administration, Dr. W. A. Daley. With the exception of
the administrative work in connection with infectious disease in schools which is
directed by Dr. Brincker, assisted by a principal assistant medical officer (Dr. J. G.
Forbes), the work of the school medical service falls entirely in the branch directed
by Dr. Daley and is organised in two main sections.
One of these sections, of which the senior medical officer in charge is Dr. C. J.
Thomas, embraces the medical inspection of school children, the medical and dental
treatment and cleansing of school children, open-air schools and general school
hygiene. For purposes of routine medical inspection, etc., London is divided into
five divisions, north-west (divisional medical officer, Dr. A. W. Sikes); north
(divisional medical officer, temporary rank, Dr. Margaret C. Hogarth); north-east
(divisional medical officer, Dr. G. Chaikin); south-east (divisional medical officer,
Dr. H. R. Kidner); south-west (divisional medical officer, Dr. E. J. Boome). The
remaining staff in this branch of the school medical work includes one principal
assistant medical officer for aural work (Mr. A. G. Wells); nine part-time assistant
aurists; one part-time consulting dental surgeon (Mr. B. Samuel); one part-time
principal assistant medical officer (Dr. Barbara Tchaykovsky); one divisional
medical officer for ophthalmic work, nursery schools, etc. (Dr. Elizabeth M. McVail);
*21 whole-time assistant medical officers; 8 assistant medical officers giving six
sessions a week; 50 assistant medical officers giving three sessions a week; additional
temporary medical assistance for 117 sessions a week; 9 medical officers (part-time)
at open-air schools; 273 doctors, surgeons and anaesthetists at treatment centres;
and 97 dentists at treatment centres, of whom 68 are employed as inspecting dentists
in the schools.
* Two vacancies—also one and a half medical officers temporarily seconded for work under the
Mental Deficiency Acts (equivalent substitutes authorised).