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11
There is still room for improvement in some of the older
schools of the Borough, but am afraid that with the high education
rate and high cost of work further improvement will have
to be postponed.
The sanitary accommodation in most cases is satisfactory,
and the water supply is good, but the lighting, ventilation and
heating is in some schools unsatisfactory.
When a number of infectious diseases is noted to have
occurred at a certain school, visits of inspection are made to
ascertain if a " carrier " is present spreading the infection, and
" swabs " taken from suspicious throats and noses, or in cases
of Scarlet Fever any children who may have been away from
school on account of illness examined for any signs of desquamation.
It is often that a child may have a slight illness and no
medical man called in, and the child returning to school shortly
after found to have had a mild attack of Scarlet Fever.
The teachers have rendered assistance by the notification of
any suspicious cases.
It has not been found necessary to close any of the schools
for infectious diseases being prevalent, but a number of class
rooms have been disinfected when cases have occurred.
I have, in my previous reports, drawn attention to the danger
of the common drinking cup in the schools, and advised the
installation of a drinking spray.
VITAL STATISTICS.
BIRTHS.
During the year 3,489 births were registered (males 1,827,
females 1,662), as against 2,449 in 1919, giving a birth-rate of
23.2 per 1,000 population. The rate for England and Wales was
25.4, for the 96 great towns 26.2; and for London 26.5.