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84
Rickets is a disease seldom met with here, and only one case of
Spinal Curvature was noted.
The number of children found with Organic Heart Disease was
small, those with functional murmur numbered 101. These were kept
under observation and the parents advised.
Many children of the latter group were found to have enlarged tonsils
and septic teeth, and were of the rheumatic type.
With the removal of these obvious defects the children generally
improve very quickly and reach normal conditions.
6. INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
The arrangements made for the detection and prevention of the
spreading of these were given fully in the report for 1920.
No action was taken under Article 57, and none was necessary
under 45 B.
The number of children excluded for varying periods under
Article 53 B was 88. Of these only 14 were suspects or sufferers from
Infectious Diseases.
The small number found at medical inspection is due to the supervision
exercised by the Head Teachers and their promptness in sending
all suspected cases to the School Doctor.
Arising from their action in this respect, 773 boys and 942 girls were
excluded for varying periods for the conditions noted on Table VII.
Scarlet Fever prevalence continued from 1920 until the end of
January, 1921, and was again epidemic in the last four months of the
year.
The number of children suffering from Diphtheria, Clinical and
Non-clinical, was considerably less than in 1920, and few cases of
Measles and Whooping Cough arose.
With regard to Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria, their incidence is
invariably greater following the school holidays than before.
This is due to the fact that a number of mild cases of these diseases
occurring during the holidays fail to come to the knowledge of the
Public Health Authority.
These children on returning to school readily act as foci of infection
and transmit the diseases to susceptible children.
No children known to be sufferers from, or contacts with, Scarlet
Fever and Diphtheria, are allowed to resume school attendance until
seen by the School Medical Officer and certified as free from disease.