London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Walthamstow 1931
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
This page requires JavaScript
62
The detailed figures have been given to show that, although a
particularly susceptible population was at risk, no gross spread of
infectious disease occurred, except in the case of Measles, early
in 1930. The open-air regime must play a very big part in combating
the spread of infectious disease at this School.
In a further endeavour to compare the incidence of infectious disease at the Nursery School (children aged 2—5 years) with that at the Infant Schools (children aged 5—7 years), the following Table has been compiled:—
| Measles. | Whooping Cough. | Mumps. | Chicken Pox. | Scarlet Fever. | Diphtheria. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1930. 17 Infant Departments: Average Attendance, 5,496 | 1,457 | 81 | 184 | 426 | 179 | 142 |
| Percentage of Infectious Disease | 26.5 | 1.47 | 3.34 | 7.75 | 3.26 | 2.59 |
| Nursery School: Average Attendance, 116 | 51 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Percentage of Infectious Disease 1931. | 43.9 | 6.89 | 1.72 | 2.59 | 2.59 | 1.72 |
| 17 Infant Departments: | 36 | 452 | 196 | 559 | 120 | 75 |
| Average Attendance, 5,285 | ||||||
| Percentage of Infectious Disease | 0.68 | 8.55 | 3.71 | 10.5 | 2.27 | 1.42 |
| Nursery School: Average Attendance, 126 | Nil | 12 | Nil | 8 | 4 | 1 |
| Percentage of Infectious Disease | Nil | 9.52 | Nil | 6.35 | 3.18 | 0.79 |
The value of the comparison is, of course, diminished by the
small numbers involved at the Nursery School; but even so, the
experience of 1931 supports the value of the open-air regime,
although the more frequent medical inspection, the daily nursing
supervision, and the well-balanced diet must also play a considerable
part.
Miss Richards, the Head Teacher, in a report stresses the improvement shown in attendance during 1931, viz.:—
| Year. | Total of Attendances. | Total Enrolment. | Average Attendance. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | 33,056 | 131 | 71.24 |
| 1931 | 42,413 | 150 | 90.04 |
| (Maximum Capacity) |