London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
East Ham 1913
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for East Ham]
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89
During the year 1913 the epidemic of Diphtheria that visited
East Ham, in common with surrounding districts, gave rise to a
considerable increase in work on the part of all concerned with the
health of the school children. I have to express my great appreciation
of the alertness shown by many teachers in promptly reporting
cases of sore throat. Many of these cases were seen at the nine
o'clock Clinics, and in the course of the year over 150 throat and
nose " swabs " were taken from such patients.
By this procedure cases of Diphtheria were discovered that
might otherwise have passed unnoticed.
During the year 1913 exclusion forms were issued by the School Medical Officer as follows:—
| For Ringworm of Scalp | 149 |
| ,, Ringworm of Body | 16 |
| ,, Impetigo Contagiosa ... | 214 |
| ,, Infective Eye Inflammations | 99 |
| ,, Eczema | 17 |
| ,, Acute Throat Conditions | 96 |
| ,, Scabies | 31 |
| ,, Miscellaneous Affections | 333 |
| Total | 955 |
The annexed table gives the complete notification of infectious
diseases in school children received for the year 1913 : —