[Report 1942] / School Medical Officer of Health, St Helens.
- St. Helens (Merseyside, England). Council.
- Date:
- 1942
Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Credit: [Report 1942] / School Medical Officer of Health, St Helens. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![TO THE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE ^ ST. HELENS EDUCATION C0MMITTE:| Ladies and Gentlemen, I submit herewith my Annual Report as School Medical Officer for th year 1942. The general picture as presented by the findings of school medical in; spections during 1942 gave rise to no uneasiness, but rather to quiet satisfactio; that despite war-time conditions the well being of the children remained good., It is true there was a very slight increase in the total number of children: found to be suffering from malnutrition, but this was so slight that it cannot b considered as reflecting any serious deterioration in the nutritional standard c the child population. The extension of school feeding and the increased par ticipation in the milk in schools scheme are safe counter measures to any danger of malnutrition. With the exception of measles, which assumed epidemic proportions btii was not severe in type, the incidence of infectious diseases was again low. Ther was, how^ever, a decrease in the number of children immunised against Diphtherf during 1942 as compared with the previous year, and though the percentage c immunised children age 5-15 years in St. Helens now stands at 52.7, this percentage is much below the safety fine. It is very satisfactory to note the steady decline in the incidence of Tuber culosis during the past 10 years. In 1933 there were on the Tuberculosis Registe 228 cases of Tuberculosis in children of school age, whereas in 1942 there wer only 99, of whom only 14 were pulmonary cases. The range of inspection and treatment services remained unrestricted i] scope throughout the year. Difficulties, however, are still being encountere(; by the nursing staff in their visits to the homes in connection with treatmen recommended. The absence from home of mothers engaged on work of nations importance is a necessary accompaniment of the war effort and as such must b: accepted. Its effects, however, are seen not only in delay in receiving very necessary treatment, but also in a slight rise in the incidence of head infestation I would also dare to suggest that the present lack of control outside school hour, will raise serious problems later. For much of the work done I am indebted to Dr. O’Brien, Deputy SchoO| Medical Officer, and to him and to other members of the staff, and to teacher and officials of the Education Department, I would take this opportunity of ex pressing my appreciation of their ever willing and helpful assistance. I am. Ladies and Gentlemen, Your obedient Servant, FRANK HAUXWELL. August, 1943.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b30127191_0004.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
