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Infectious Diseases Clinic.—The weekly clinic at 2 p.m. on
Tuesdays was continued, and all children of school age who had
been in contact with cases of infectious diseases were seen prior to
their return to school.
As in previous years, all children discharged from the Isolation
Hospital or after home isolation for infectious disease were seen,
and particular care was taken to refer all cases with any suspicion
of rheumatism or of cardiac defect to the next rheumatism clinic.
Fifteen children were referred, 11 following diphtheria and
4 following scarlet fever. One was already attending the rheumatism
clinic before contracting infectious disease, and another failed to
attend. Of the remaining 13 new patients referred, three had post
diphtheritic carditis and one had carditis following scarlet fever.
Sore Throat Follow-up Scheme.—At Dr. Sheldon's request at
the close of the year, a follow-up scheme was begun. The parents
of all children reported to the School Medical Service to have had
a sore throat are to be invited in writing to bring the child to the
infectious disease clinic approximately four weeks after the onset
of sore throat.
The primary purpose is to make sure that no cardiac complications
have followed the sore throat. Only two cases were seen
in 1937, but experience during 1938 suggests that the scheme will
have definite value. The parents have proved willing and anxious
to co-operate.