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11
refer to the "Toddlers." We read in School Medical Officers' Reports
that at the Entrance Examination (on the school roll) of children, a
considerable number of these present defects. The organisation of a
scheme for the medical inspection of toddlers is surely due. At present,
in Deptford, we examine those who are brought to the clinics voluntarily
but there is no definite scheme in the London Boroughs. This would
entail increase of staff of course.
The notification of Measles is now being dropped in Deptford, as
the special scheme of inter-notification with the school authorities has
proved satisfactory. Moreover, I found that notification did not
really inform us of all cases occurring, as so many parents never call
in a doctor at all.
Small-pox has not visited the Borough in my time, but it remains
a constant threat even though almost entirely of the mild variety. The
cry of the anti-vaccinator has been loud in the land ; it may be he cries
at his best—for the Public Vaccinator—when the disease sits down on
his own doorstep.
Again and again I have pointed out that diphtheria, and not so
much small-pox, is the enemy. A thousand children have now been
Schicked and/or inoculated. With so many thousands left unprotected,
diphtheria must perforce remain with us. It is easy to persuade
parents, in whose family a case of diphtheria has occurred, to bring
their children for inoculation It is a great pity that so many more
wait until this disease has visited their family before coming forward
for inoculation.
The Dick test is more a test for hospital staff purposes, and the
Schultze-Charlton reaction, for doubtful cases, has not caught on with
general practitioners. Serum for use in delaying the age of attack of
measles is not likely to make much headway, at least, until some better
plan is found than the present one.
In any cases of infantile paralysis we disinfect, we stand by and
offer to arrange-for massage and electricity if we think the need for
this has not been taken advantage of.
Cerebro-spinal Fever, a rare but fatal disease, calls for the use of
West's swabs for the contacts.
As regards Food. We have not had a case of food poisoning for
some time. Such an enquiry is undertaken by the Medical Officer
of Health.