London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

View report page

Wimbledon 1925

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wimbledon]

This page requires JavaScript

A special form (M.I.20) was issued to all School Teachers
embodying these regulations and giving a short description of
the early signs and symptoms of the different infectious
diseases, as well as a revised interpretation of certain symbols
used on the Medical Record Cards in connection with the
Medical Inspection of School Children.

During the year, 941 notifications of Non-notifiable Diseases were received from Head Teachers, namely:—

Mumps328
Whooping Cough304
Chicken Pox190
German Measles67
Measles49
Other3
941

The outbreak of mumps lasted from February to July, the
maximum being in May. Whooping cough was prevalent chiefly
in March, June and July; German Measles cases were practically
confined to April and May. No Schools, Departments or
classes were closed on account of these outbreaks.
604 scholars were sent by class teachers or were brought
by parents to the Clinic for diagnosis as to infectious diseases.
245 of these cases were suffering from sore throats or "influenzal
attacks," and were returned to school after a few days'
exclusion. 191 cases of Mumps, 72 cases of Chicken-Pox and
35 cases of Whooping Cough were excluded through the Clinic.
3 cases were found desquamating from Scarlet Fever, and 2
children with positive Diphtheritic throats were admitted to
the Isolation Hospital. The early diagnosis and exclusion of
such cases have assisted in reducing the outbreaks, and the
quicker return to school of the non-infectious conditions has
undoubtedly kept up the attendance percentage.
Following up:—The "following up" by home visitation,
of defects discovered at Routine Inspections in Schools in order
to secure the necessary treatment, is seldom necessary in the
Wimbledon area. The parents are keenly interested in the
medical examinations, and practically all are present. Under
these circumstances, the nature of the defect and the need for
treatment or observation can be fully explained at once. If
immediate treatment is required, the parent is instructed to
place the child under the family doctor, or to bring the child
to the Treatment Clinic. If the child is noted "for observation,"
a letter is sent to the parent at the end of the specified
period, asking that the child should be brought to the Inspection
Clinic for further examination. Only on failure to attend,
or in certain difficult cases (such as operative treatment for
54