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
West Ham 1927
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
This page requires JavaScript
(6) Infectious Disease.
There has not been a school closed during the year
on account of infectious disease, in spite of an unusual
incidence of Diphtheria and Scarlet Fever. All children excluded
from school by the Assistant School Medical Officers are notified
to the School Medical Officer, and their names entered in the
School Diseases Register of Exclusions.
The following Table gives an analysis of the entries therein for the year:—
Exclusions during 1927.
| No. of Cases excluded | |
|---|---|
| Skin Diseases | 347 |
| Conjunctivitis | 27 |
| Other External Eye Diseases | 15 |
| Other Defects and Diseases | 57 |
| Mumps | 22 |
| Otitis Media | 4 |
| Tonsillitis | 15 |
| Verminous | 3 |
| Chorea | 2 |
| Diphtheria | 4 |
| Tuberculosis | 81 |
| Tinea Tonsurans— | |
| Treated by X-Rays | 49 |
| Treated at Clinic | 32 |
| Tinea (Body) | 15 |
Total Number of Children involved, 668.*
* This figure includes cases notified from every source.
(7) Following-Up.
At the time of examination a Medical "Following-up'' Card
is made out for all children requiring treatment. If not referred
to one of the School Clinics the case is followed up by home visits
made by one or other of the School Nurses.
If the treatment required is beyond the scope of simple
domestic measures the family Doctor or Hospital is advised,
where the case is not otherwise suitable for Clinic treatment. In
the course of following-up both home and school visits are made.
In addition, those cases marked out for treatment form the basis
of the Doctor's re-inspection at a subsequent visit to the School
or Clinic.
Children for whom glasses are prescribed are followed up,
until glasses are obtained, by one of the School nurses attached
to the district where the child resides, and the appropriate Doctor
re-inspects the child with its new glasses within three months.
145