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
Croydon 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]
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Table XI.
| Condition. | Exclusions during 1937. | Percentage of total exclusions. | Exclusions during 1936. | Percentage of total exclusions. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ringworm—Head | 6 | 0.09 | 3 | 0.04 |
| „ Body | 18 | 0.27 | 26 | 0.33 |
| Verminous Conditions | 1511 | 23.1 | 1750 | 22.69 |
| Impetigo | 291 | 4.45 | 336 | 4.35 |
| Scabies | 95 | 1.45 | 58 | 0.75 |
| Scarlet Fever | 467 | 7.14 | 326 | 4.23 |
| Measles | 763 | 11.67 | 2093 | 27.14 |
| Diphtheria | 212 | 3.24 | 145 | 1.88 |
| Whooping Cough | 553 | 8.46 | 770 | 9.98 |
| Chicken Pox | 931 | 14.24 | 1011 | 13.11 |
| Mumps | 593 | 9.7 | 199 | 2.58 |
| Tuberculosis (all forms) | 43 | 0.66 | 24 | 0.31 |
| External Eye Disease | 20 | 0.3 | 35 | 0.45 |
| Sore Throat | 352 | 5.38 | 196 | 2.54 |
| Other Causes | 683 | 14.47 | 740 | 9.59 |
| 6538 | ... | 7712 | ... |
It must be remembered that the figures for exclusions are not
related in any way to the figures obtained in routine medical
inspections.
There were 1,174 fewer children excluded from school on
account of various illnesses than in 1936.
The chief causes of exclusion were Infectious Diseases, 53.9
per cent. The Infectious Diseases constituting the major causes
of these exclusions changed, however. Measles followed its biennial
behaviour and became much less prevalent during the early part of
the year. Mumps, however, which was insignificant in 1936,
increased. Both Diphtheria and Scarlet Fever were slightly more
prevalent, but Chicken Pox and Whooping Cough showed a
decreased incidence. The total cases of this group of infectious
diseases declined, however, from 4,544 in 1936 to 3,519.
Exclusions on account of verminous conditions were lower than
m 1936 and constituted 23.11 per cent, of the total exclusions.
The health visitors examined 59,696 children in the schools
in connection with their primary inspections for the personal
cleanliness of the scholars. Impetigo was less prevalent than in
1936.