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The prevention of Diphtheria, Scarlet Fever and
Whooping Cough, by immunisation, is one of your normal
services, but no Immunisation Clinics were held during
September and October 1939 From the l8th November 1939
onwards, one Immunisation Clinic was held weekly at the
Humphrey Centre (First Aid Post), in Upney Lane. Prior to
the war, one session per week was held at both the Central
and the Woodward Clinic.
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(e) Orthopaedic Treatment. The usual monthly attendance
of the Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon (Mr. B. Whitchurch
Howell, F.R.C.S.), discontinued on the outbreak of war, was
resumed in December 1939, when 28 school-children were seen
by him, as compared with an average monthly attendance of
36 school-children.
With the exception of a few days early in September
1939 Remedial Exercises and other treatments have continued
to the close of the year.
(f) Ultra Violet Light Treatment. Ultra Violet Light
Treatment has been continued, with the exception of a few
days early in September 1939.
(g) X-ray Treatment for Ringworm of the Scalp. There
is little demand for this Service, but no child who required
this form of treatment has been deprived of it on account
of the war.
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(h) Speech Training. With the closing of the schools
at the outbreak of the war, the Speech Training Centre was
closed and has not been re-opened up to the close of the
year.
(i) Foot Clinic. The services of the Municipal Foot
Clinic, commenced in July 1938 for the treatment of minor
foot troubles, were made available to school-children, but
this Clinic ceased to function on the outbreak of war.
This service was recommenced on the 11th December 1939, when
it was made available, once again, to school-children.
8. INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
There was a decrease in the number of notifiable
infectious diseases during the year, and in the latter part
of the year there was a still further decrease.
Towards the end of the year we should, in the normal
way, have expected to receive information of the occurrence
of a large number of cases of measles amongst the school
population, but owing to the large exodus of children from
London, it was the Reception Areas who reported many cases
of measles occurring in their districts. It was found that
as the children commenced to return home the number of
cases of measles notified in this area increased.
In October the Measles and Whooping Cough
(Provisional) Regulation, 1939, was introduced, making
these diseases notifiable, and although these Regulations
are a great help in bringing to our notice cases occurring
amongst toddlers and young adults, in normal times it is not
anticipated the Regulations would help us so much where
school-children are concerned. This is because we have
always received up-to-date information from School
Attendance Officers of cases of acute non-notifiable
infectious diseases occurring in school-children.
It was unnecessary during the year to close any
School or School Department on account of infectious
disease.