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THE LATE PROF. F. M. CAIRD.
1086 was due to epidemic of small-pox and to the change of school medical officers in July of the year. Small-pox, he remarks, is a disease of choice, but it is also an expensive disease, and lays a burden on the SEHVICE. SCHOOL MEDICAL rates. Medical inspection revealed the very significant THE following are statistics taken from the reports fact that only 9’2 per cent. of the children were for 1925 of school medical officers in two districts.
Public Health Services.
This
Malnutrition and dietetic errors are vaccinated. commented on in an illuminating way. Dr. Horsburgh says that he has found that often the pre-tuberculous (non-infective) child is better attending school than if he is excluded from it for long periods. Often these children are kept at home and allowed to sit indoors over the kitchen fire most of the day, so that they do not get as much fresh air as they would if they remained in school. A special clinic for the treatment of crippling defects is run in cooperation with the Royal OrthoCases requiring paedic Hospital, Birmingham. * Excluding uncleanliness and dental defects. t Not given. hospital treatment are sent into Birmingham, and the maintenance of each case is arra,nged for by the Warrington. Dr. G. W. N. Joseph, in his thirteenth report on committee according to the home circumstances. In the cooperation of parents, it is pointed school hygiene, makes some interesting observations discussing that those who refuse any form of treatmentout on the planning of new schools, and refers to the fortunately few in number--are more often fathers use of special glass which allows the passage of ultraviolet rays through the classroom windows. It is than mothers. noted that, although verminous heads and impetigo have become much less common during the past INFECTIOUS DISEASE IN ENGLAND AND WALES six years, there has not been the corresponding DURING THE WEEK ENDED NOV. 6TH, 1926. decrease of enlarged cervical glands that might have Notifications.—The following cases of infectious disease been expected. The percentage of children showing were notified during the week : Small-pox 302 (last week has from 0’9 in 1924 131), scarlet fever 1873, diphtheria 1108, enteric fever 43, very defective nutrition grown to 1’3 in 1925. An epidemic of measles started about pneumonia 1095, puerperal fever 60, puerperal pyrexia 169, the middle of June and went on till the end of the cerebro-spinal fever 5, acute poliomyelitis 36, acute polioyear. The number of cases was greater than in any encephalitis 4, encephalitis lethargica 49, dysentery 20, other year of the Warrington records. In May, ophthalmia neonatorum 127. There were no cases of cholera, plague, or typhus fever notified during the week. 1921, arrangements were made for treatment to be The increased incidence of small-pox is explained by the in the in school twice weekly every given borough, report of 263 new cases from the county of Durham. Only and results have been very gratifying. The nurses 15 of these were notified fron the county boroughs of are said to be unanimous that this work at the schools Gateshead and South Shields ; 153 from 8 boroughs and is doing more good than the work previously done at urban districts (Brandon-and-Byshottles reporting 98 . the clinics. It will be seen that in 1925 only 18,553 cases) ; and 95 from 6 rural districts (Lanchester reporting school attendances were lost in consequence of 49 cases). Deaths.-In the aggregate of great towns, including minor ailments, compared with 104,453 in 1918a saving of 85,900 attendances. Any extra cost London, there was no death from small-pox, 1 (0) from involved by the larger staff of nurses can thus be enteric fever, 11 (1) from measles, 8 (0) from scarlet fever, from 18 40 (12) from diphtheria. practically defrayed by the large saving of grant. 101 (3) fromwhooping-cough, diarrhoea and enteritis under 2 years, Children with enlarged tonsils and adenoids are and (24) 88 (14) from influenza. The figures in parentheses operated on at the infirmary at or about 11 A.M. on are those for London itself. Friday mornings, and remain there until 4.30 P.M. At this time the Health Department Ambulance them to their own homes. After the removes THE LATE PROF. F. M. CAIRD. operation the child attends from time to time at the THE following appreciation of Prof. Caird has reached school clinic, where nasal douching, etc., is done if necessary. A leaflet on breathing exercises for the us from an old pupil: " Your obituary notice recalls child is given to the mother, and a notice is sent many of Prof. Caird’s great qualities, but omits one to the head teacher of the school stating that the of his greatest. All through his career he was disoperation has been done, and asking that the child tinguished for his wonderful and unfailing kindness to his juniors at all ages. To him went students with shall be corrected for mouth-breathing. There are no open-air schools (day or residential) their surgical troubles and from his kindness and help in Warrington. The account given of the Warrington there arose many a lifelong friendship. One student occupation centre is interesting and valuable. An remembers with gratitude his first winter in Edinburgh inquiry was made at the end of 1925 to see to what when laid up with a damaged knee. Mr. Caird, as extent children needing spectacles continued to wear he was then, came daily for six weeks across the them after leaving school. A questionnaire was pre- meadows to cheer up a rather lonely youth and to keep pared, and the nurses filled in certain particulars him well supplied with books-no small expenditure in the course of their usual visits to the home. Alto- of time and trouble for a busy man on one who at gether 163 children (83 boys and 80 girls) had left first was a complete stranger-a stage quickly passed school during that time wearing glasses for the and merged into a friendship that lasted to the end. correction of defects that rendered the vision worse Dozens of men must remember that little room at the than 6/12 in at least one eye. Of these 163 children, top of his house furnished partly with treasured chairs 106 (56 boys and 50 girls), or 65 per cent., had dis- from the old Infirmary.... Here all were welcome continued wearing glasses after leaving school. This and here everything on earth was discussed and thither discontinuance appeared to be quite irrespective of one took one’s joys for congratulation and one’s the amount of visual defect present at the last sorrows for comfort, and always came away better." examination. The report of the inquiry gives in detail the various reasons for which the children ceased to wear their glasses, and it offers so much A DUNLOP CHILDREN’S BED.-Through the Dunlop food for thought as to be well worth reading in full. Hospital and Benevolent Fund the employees of the Dunlop Rubber Co. have endowed a cot in the Birmingham Children’s Nuneaton. Hospital at a cost of 91000. Between two and three years Dr. P. G. Horsburgh points out that the number of were occupied in raising the money, and it is hoped gradually routine inspections during the year was very low. to endow other beds in the hospitals of the city.
Public Health Services.
This
Malnutrition and dietetic errors are vaccinated. commented on in an illuminating way. Dr. Horsburgh says that he has found that often the pre-tuberculous (non-infective) child is better attending school than if he is excluded from it for long periods. Often these children are kept at home and allowed to sit indoors over the kitchen fire most of the day, so that they do not get as much fresh air as they would if they remained in school. A special clinic for the treatment of crippling defects is run in cooperation with the Royal OrthoCases requiring paedic Hospital, Birmingham. * Excluding uncleanliness and dental defects. t Not given. hospital treatment are sent into Birmingham, and the maintenance of each case is arra,nged for by the Warrington. Dr. G. W. N. Joseph, in his thirteenth report on committee according to the home circumstances. In the cooperation of parents, it is pointed school hygiene, makes some interesting observations discussing that those who refuse any form of treatmentout on the planning of new schools, and refers to the fortunately few in number--are more often fathers use of special glass which allows the passage of ultraviolet rays through the classroom windows. It is than mothers. noted that, although verminous heads and impetigo have become much less common during the past INFECTIOUS DISEASE IN ENGLAND AND WALES six years, there has not been the corresponding DURING THE WEEK ENDED NOV. 6TH, 1926. decrease of enlarged cervical glands that might have Notifications.—The following cases of infectious disease been expected. The percentage of children showing were notified during the week : Small-pox 302 (last week has from 0’9 in 1924 131), scarlet fever 1873, diphtheria 1108, enteric fever 43, very defective nutrition grown to 1’3 in 1925. An epidemic of measles started about pneumonia 1095, puerperal fever 60, puerperal pyrexia 169, the middle of June and went on till the end of the cerebro-spinal fever 5, acute poliomyelitis 36, acute polioyear. The number of cases was greater than in any encephalitis 4, encephalitis lethargica 49, dysentery 20, other year of the Warrington records. In May, ophthalmia neonatorum 127. There were no cases of cholera, plague, or typhus fever notified during the week. 1921, arrangements were made for treatment to be The increased incidence of small-pox is explained by the in the in school twice weekly every given borough, report of 263 new cases from the county of Durham. Only and results have been very gratifying. The nurses 15 of these were notified fron the county boroughs of are said to be unanimous that this work at the schools Gateshead and South Shields ; 153 from 8 boroughs and is doing more good than the work previously done at urban districts (Brandon-and-Byshottles reporting 98 . the clinics. It will be seen that in 1925 only 18,553 cases) ; and 95 from 6 rural districts (Lanchester reporting school attendances were lost in consequence of 49 cases). Deaths.-In the aggregate of great towns, including minor ailments, compared with 104,453 in 1918a saving of 85,900 attendances. Any extra cost London, there was no death from small-pox, 1 (0) from involved by the larger staff of nurses can thus be enteric fever, 11 (1) from measles, 8 (0) from scarlet fever, from 18 40 (12) from diphtheria. practically defrayed by the large saving of grant. 101 (3) fromwhooping-cough, diarrhoea and enteritis under 2 years, Children with enlarged tonsils and adenoids are and (24) 88 (14) from influenza. The figures in parentheses operated on at the infirmary at or about 11 A.M. on are those for London itself. Friday mornings, and remain there until 4.30 P.M. At this time the Health Department Ambulance them to their own homes. After the removes THE LATE PROF. F. M. CAIRD. operation the child attends from time to time at the THE following appreciation of Prof. Caird has reached school clinic, where nasal douching, etc., is done if necessary. A leaflet on breathing exercises for the us from an old pupil: " Your obituary notice recalls child is given to the mother, and a notice is sent many of Prof. Caird’s great qualities, but omits one to the head teacher of the school stating that the of his greatest. All through his career he was disoperation has been done, and asking that the child tinguished for his wonderful and unfailing kindness to his juniors at all ages. To him went students with shall be corrected for mouth-breathing. There are no open-air schools (day or residential) their surgical troubles and from his kindness and help in Warrington. The account given of the Warrington there arose many a lifelong friendship. One student occupation centre is interesting and valuable. An remembers with gratitude his first winter in Edinburgh inquiry was made at the end of 1925 to see to what when laid up with a damaged knee. Mr. Caird, as extent children needing spectacles continued to wear he was then, came daily for six weeks across the them after leaving school. A questionnaire was pre- meadows to cheer up a rather lonely youth and to keep pared, and the nurses filled in certain particulars him well supplied with books-no small expenditure in the course of their usual visits to the home. Alto- of time and trouble for a busy man on one who at gether 163 children (83 boys and 80 girls) had left first was a complete stranger-a stage quickly passed school during that time wearing glasses for the and merged into a friendship that lasted to the end. correction of defects that rendered the vision worse Dozens of men must remember that little room at the than 6/12 in at least one eye. Of these 163 children, top of his house furnished partly with treasured chairs 106 (56 boys and 50 girls), or 65 per cent., had dis- from the old Infirmary.... Here all were welcome continued wearing glasses after leaving school. This and here everything on earth was discussed and thither discontinuance appeared to be quite irrespective of one took one’s joys for congratulation and one’s the amount of visual defect present at the last sorrows for comfort, and always came away better." examination. The report of the inquiry gives in detail the various reasons for which the children ceased to wear their glasses, and it offers so much A DUNLOP CHILDREN’S BED.-Through the Dunlop food for thought as to be well worth reading in full. Hospital and Benevolent Fund the employees of the Dunlop Rubber Co. have endowed a cot in the Birmingham Children’s Nuneaton. Hospital at a cost of 91000. Between two and three years Dr. P. G. Horsburgh points out that the number of were occupied in raising the money, and it is hoped gradually routine inspections during the year was very low. to endow other beds in the hospitals of the city.