[Report 1947] / School Medical Officer of Health, Manchester.
- Manchester (England). Council.
- Date:
- 1947
Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Credit: [Report 1947] / School Medical Officer of Health, Manchester. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![conditions included under this heading are always great. During the year under review, 22,818 cases were recorded by the Department, and a considerable amount of work devolves upon the nursing staff in treating these cases. Many are of a trivial nature, and it is often felt that the treatment required could be equally well carried out by the parents. If the children do attend the Clinics, however, it is imperative that treatment be carried out by the nursing staff until the condition is healed. The clerical work connected with these cases is also very considerable, as the same routine must be followed for each of the miscellaneous cases as for those of a more serious nature. Below are given comparative figures of the cases of minor ailments, including skin diseases, for the years 1937 and 1947 School population in 1937 School population in 1947 96,914 90,570 Disease or Defect Ringworm, Scalp Ringworm, Body Scabies . . Imperigo Other Skin Diseases Eye Disease Ear Defects Miscellaneous, e.g., minor injuries, bruises, sores, etc Total Attendances, at general clinics, including dental and medical supervision cases No. of Cases No. of Cases in 1937 in 1947 4 3 92 30 907 1,104 4,339 1,765 5,739 6,352 4,180 3.487 5,054 3,612 26,111 22,818 507,831 363.432 A consideration of the figures in the above Table suggests a great improvement in the methods of early ascertainment and a definite fall in the incidence of certain conditions. Scabies.—After the first world war, the high incidence of scabies I persisted for many years ; in fact, after almost 20 years the total number of cases was only 200 short of the total for the year 1947 which is just two years after the end of the second world war. The experience | gained during and after the 1914-18 war showed Public Health Admin¬ istrators what to expect as a result of overcrowding, and the lack of I organised medical and nursing services. Manchester was fortunate,] however, in that many of its medical and nursing staff were too old I for military service. It was also the desire of the Board of EducationI that the School Health Service should be maintained as far as possible.! In consequence, the efficiency of the School Health Service of Man-I Chester remained at a comparatively high level and that, coupled with! early ascertainment, increased efficiency in treatment and the fullesti co-operation with the Health Department of the City, enabled the CityJ to prevent the spread of this troublesome infestation. An arrangement was made with the Health Department for the notification to them of every case of scabies found in school children,! so that the homes could be visited as quickly as possible with a viev to treating those, not of school age, who were found to be affected.| It was so arranged between the Departments that the treatment of all the members of a household could be carried out on the same day!](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b29927833_0016.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
