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Bacteriological Examinations:—1945 Swabs were taken from
children discharged from Hospital after diphtheria, and from home and
school contacts. As the result of examination, 215 were found to carry
diphtheria germs, 1,730 did not show such evidence, whilst 52 had germs
similar to, but not identical with, diphtheria germs.
Microscopical Examinations.—6 specimens of hairs were found to
contain spores of ringworm out of 19 examined.
Ringworm is a disease whose incidence has been greatly reduced
by the application of X-Rays. But for the migratory character of our
population, it could be extinguished immediately.
FOLLOWING-UP.
Visits by School Nurses numbered 5,694. These visits were to
children absent from school on account of illnesses notified from the
school, or because of failure to keep appointments at one or other of
the treatment clinics. Children upon whom operations have been performed
were also followed-up at home until they were fit to return to
school.
MEDICAL TREATMENT.
Tonsils and Adenoids.—The North Middlesex Hospital and the
Prince of Wales's Hospital undertake, for payment, the operative treatment
of children found to be suffering from enlarged tonsils and
hypertrophy of post-nasal adenoid tissue. Operations numbered 659
during the year. They were all successful. The operations are conducted
under chloroform and ether anaesthesia, so that they may be deliberate
and thorough.