They used to put tiny little switches in wall lights with a pull cord to operate it. The switches were not as robust and long lasting as they might have been and finding a replacement switch virtually impossible.
If the wall lights are operated from a separate wall switch then it's a relatively easy matter to "wire-out" the switch in the wall light and have it controlled by the regular light switch.
If this is not the case - no separate switch - then you're pretty much out of luck - buy a new wall light.
Good luck
Eric W Brown, October 2014