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other cases the mother is quite willing but will ask the father—nothing
happens ! Walthamstow is not well supplied with qualified dentists and
that does not improve matters.
6. INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
All children suffering from Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria (whether of
throat, nose or non-clinical), Measles, Whooping Cough, Chicken Pox,
and Mumps, are excluded from school, and, in the case of the first two
diseases, the contacts of school age as well; these latter are seen by
the Medical Officer of Health at the Clinic; the contacts of Scarlet
Fever are kept away from school until the incubation period has
elapsed, and the contacts of Diphtheria, if thought necessary, are
swabbed, nose, throat, ear, or sores as the case may be.
In the early part of the year, Diphtheria was prevalent and accompanied
by a number of non-clinical cases, or carriers; the disease
attacked the nose in many children, causing simply a sore nose, but
taking a long time to clear up as proved by successive negative swabs.
For the first six weeks of the year, the Assistant School Medical Officers
were engaged in visiting schools and examining the throat and noses
of children. During this period 644 swabs were taken of suspected
children, apart from those that were swabbed as contacts. During the
whole of the year the total number of school children swabbed primarily
as suspicious, was 1,218. The Education Committee have a small
laboratory on the premises, and one of the Assistant School Medical
Officers is responsible for the bacteriological work; further details are
given under the Laboratory Report.
During the summer holidays, Scarlet Fever became more prevalent,
and continued so during the next four months of the year. A careful
record of schools affected is kept, and any unusual number of cases
appearing in any department resulted in a visit of inspection to discover
if possible any missed case.
During November, Mumps became prevalent and continued so for
several months.