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47
Residential
schools,
children's
homes, and
children's
receiving
homes.
The arrangements described in previous annual reports for sending infectious
disease "contacts" to Earlsfield House children's receiving home have been continued.
During the year, 151 children were admitted to the "contact" block at Earlsfield
House. Of these, 36 developed the disease to which they had been stated to have
been exposed, and 2 developed other diseases.
A brief summary of the incidence of infectious illnesses in the residential schools,
children's homes, and children's receiving homes during 1935 is set out below. The
cases of infectious illness (except scabies, impetigo, and some of the cases of body
ringworm) were removed to one or other of the Council's hospitals. All practicable
steps were taken in close co-operation with the officers of the schools and homes with
a view to preventing the spread of infection.
Diphtheria.—A group of cases of diphtheria occurred in one school from which
11 children were removed to hospital, 7 of these were confirmed as mild clinical
cases and 4 were found to be carriers.
Of the 7 clinical cases, 3 had not been Schick-tested owing to parental refusal
or other reasons, 2 had been reported as Schick negative and 2 had received courses
of prophylactic treatment.
Twenty-six children were transferred to hospital from one of the receiving
homes, a diagnosis of diphtheria being confirmed in 22 (4 were carriers). In another
receiving home 15 cases of diphtheria were confirmed after removal to hospital, and
there were also 4 carriers. The cases were mainly sporadic and most of the children
concerned were incubating the disease on admission. All the cases were mild.
Owing to the short length of stay of children in the receiving homes, active
immunisation against diphtheria has not been undertaken in these homes.
In 15 of the residential schools, throat and nose swabbings of 318 children
yielded a total of 49 (or 15.4 per cent.) showing the presence of diphtheria bacilli, 269
proving negative. Of 34 subcultures tested for virulence, 29 proved virulent and 5
non-virulent; one of the latter in subsequent testing of a further subculture, was,
however, found to be virulent. Of 7 children with ear discharge, 2 yielded virulent
diphtheria, the remaining 5 being negative. In 9 re-examinations of children already
found positive, diphtheria bacilli were still present in 6.
Among 16 adults, employed in the residential schools, who were swabbed, 15
yielded negative results, and 1 showed the presence of virulent diphtheria in the
throat.
Scarlet fever.—Sporadic cases of scarlet fever occurred in some of the schools
and homes.
Measles.—A few cases of measles were reported during the year.
Gentian measles.—A group of cases of German measles occurred in one school,
and some sporadic cases were reported from some of the other establishments.
Whooping-cough.—Several cases of whooping-cough were reported from one
school, and a few cases from other schools and homes.
Chickenpox.—Groups of cases of chickenpox occurred in three of the schools,
and there were a few cases in some of the others.
Mumps.—Outbreaks of mumps occurred in six of the schools as well as in one
of the receiving homes. A few cases were reported elsewhere.
Scabies.—Cases of scabies were reported from four schools.
Impetigo.—Cases of impetigo were reported from four schools.
Ringworm.—A few cases of scalp ringworm were reported. Specimens of hair
stumps taken from suspected cases were microscopically examined in the laboratory
at the County Hall. Out of 26 specimens examined, ringworm fungus (small spore)
was found to be present in 6.
Some cases of body ringworm were reported from one school during the autumn,
particularly amongst some of the girls, and the children in the nursery. The cases
cleared up satisfactorily after treatment at the school. Special measures were taken
with regard to the washing and disinfection of the towels.
In consequence of the occurrence of some cases of body ringworm amongst the
boys on the T.S. "Exmouth," visits were paid to the ship by the consulting physician
for skin diseases (Dr. J. M. H. MacLeod), who reported as follows
D1