[Report 1922] / School Medical Officer of Health, Cumberland County Council.

  • Cumberland (England). County Council.
Date:
1922
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1922] / School Medical Officer of Health, Cumberland County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    10/72 (page 10)
    I am afraid that the long period of unemployment is at last telling its tale on the children, whereas the percentage of children with some defect either requiring treatment or to be kept under observation in the Eastern part of the County, where unemploy¬ ment has not been so bad, was 50% ; in the West of the County, where most distress existed, the percentage was 68. (a) Uncleanliness. Of the Code Groups examined, only 2.5% showed uncleanli¬ ness of the head or body compared with 3% the previous year. Of the Specials examined, 5% showed uncleanliness of the head or body, compared with 8% the previous year. When it is remembered that in the early years of Medical Inspection it was nothing unusual to find in a School 30, 40, or even sometines 50% of the children dirty and verminous, the result, as shown above, is one of the outstanding features of Medical Inspection, and one which the Teachers and Nurses particularly are to be congratulated on for it is mainly owing to their efforts that such good results have been obtained. The worst cases are practically now never seen, but the difficulty which we now have to face is that the cases which do exist are those in which a re-infection occurs from the home. It is practically impossible to keep some of the children free from vermin, because as soon as they are cleaned they become infected again in their homes, and I believe the cause of this re-infection is that the flock beds so commonly used get in a short time swarming with vermin, and it is impossible to get rid of them, as the flock forms an excellent breeding ground for vermin. If straw was used unstead of Hock, it could be changed often, and would be cheaper and much cleaner than the flock. (b) Minor Ailments. Included in this group are various external eye, skin, and ear diseases. Such trivial and common ailments of children as small septic sores, cuts, burns, etc., are also included. Of these 1,864 were referred for treatment, 418 more than in the previous year. An increase of cases does not necessarily mean an increase in the condition. It may be that very trivial cases are sent for treatment, or it may be that more cases are brought to the notice of the Medical Officer. It is certainly true that parents are more anxious to have their children treated. (c) Tonsils and Adenoids. Of the total number of children examined, whether as Rout¬ ines or Specials, 489, or 3.9%, were referred for treatment ; whilst 1,168, or 9.3%, were to be kept under observation,