London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
London County Council 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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45
Infectious diseases in schools
Elementary schools
The numbers of cases of infectious illness reported by head teachers as occurring
among children on the rolls of the day elementary schools during 1937, compared
with similar figures reported during the preceding six years, are shown below:—
Table 27
| Year | Diphtheria | Scarlet fever | Measles and German measles | Whooping-cough | Chickenpox | Mumps | Ophthalmia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1931 | 3,202 | 5,626 | 3,811 | 9,019 | 13,598 | 5,685 | 889 |
| 1932 | 3,338 | 6,832 | 34.922 | 7,624 | 11,440 | 8,016 | 649 |
| 1933 | 4,446 | 11,357 | 14,130 | 8,373 | 10,863 | 9,591 | 427 |
| 1934 | 5,439 | 8,850 | 37,701 | 5,029 | 10,283 | 6,354 | 554 |
| 1935 | 4,337 | 5,078 | 3,079 | 7,500 | 10,146 | 12,199 | 354 |
| 1930 | 3,268 | 4,852 | 32,089 | 7,303 | 8,659 | 7,844 | 473 |
| 1937 | 3,656 | 3,903 | 5,536 | 6,320 | 10,032 | 8,788 | 274 |
The figures for ringworm are given later in this section of the report (page 48).
A reference to the numbers of cases of scabies and impetigo, the treatment of
these diseases, and the special measures taken during 1937 with a view to reducing
their incidence, is made on page 43.
No case of smallpox was notified in London during the year. The last confirmed
case occurred in June, 1934.
Special investigations into the occurrence of the infectious diseases specified
in the following table were carried out by the school medical staff during the year:—
Table 28
| Division | Diphtheria | Scarlet fever | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of visits | Number of depts. visited | Number of children examined | Number of visits | Number of depts. visited | Number of children examined | |
| N.E. | 28 | 24 | 3,226 | 18 | 14 | 2,074 |
| N. | 45 | 32 | 4,159 | 25 | 21 | 2,593 |
| N.W | 14 | 12 | 911 | 30 | 24 | 2,208 |
| S.W. | 31 | 26 | 2,698 | 15 | 15 | 1,429 |
| S.E. | 33 | 25 | 2,185 | 37 | 28 | 2,415 |
| Total | 151 | 119 | 13,179 | 125 | 102 | 10,719 |
Children in certain schools were examined from time to time tor the reasons
stated, viz., one on account of ophthalmia; one on account of dysentery, and one on
account of a skin condition which subsequently proved to be chickenpox.
In addition to investigations by medical officers, valuable work was done by
the school nursing staff in following up in the schools the medical officers' visits in
connection with the occurrence of scarlet fever and diphtheria, as well as in the
special visitation of schools where there were outbreaks of whooping-cough,
chickenpox, mumps, measles, scabies and ophthalmia.
In the course of 151 visits paid by the school medical staff to 119 departments
in elementary schools, 13,179 children were inspected and swabbings from the throat
and nose of 3,631 selected children (including a number seen at clinics or treatment
centres) were taken for bacteriological examination; 3,362 proved negative. In 269
(7.4 per cent.) bacilli morphologically resembling diphtheria were found in culture,
and 237 of the cases were isolated for virulence testing, 216 (91 per cent.) proving
virulent and 21 non-virulent. In addition to the above, swabs were taken from discharging
ears of 32 children (21 proving negative and 11 yielding diphtheria bacilli),
and from the eyes in one case of conjunctivitis, which showed diphtheria bacilli.
Diphtheria
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