View report page

ADMINISTRATION 33
Ringworm.—It will be noted that the reported cases of this disease in Provided Schools
have apparently increased some 50 per cent, above the average, such increase it is believed,
however, to be more apparent than real and due to increased inspection. The figures for
1915-18 lend support to such view. It is, however, somewhat remarkable that the rates
observed in Non-provided Schools have varied so slightly.
Scabies.—The same explanation is believed to apply to the increase of this disease in
Provided Schools. From the Non-provided Schools more cases of scabies used to be reported
than from the Provided. In the last two years the position is reversed.
Vermin.—The rates here more than suggest that changes in the system of reporting cases
have been effective since 1917.
In this connection mention may be made of two returns specially received from the
County Council showing the numbers of school children found to be verminous when examined
in the course of the Winter Term 1919 and the Summer Term, 1920.
During the Winter Term, 15,681 children were examined, vermin being found on the
heads of 2,581, and in the clothes, on the body and head, in 14 instances only. In the Summer
Term when 15,721 children were examined, 2,374 had verminous heads, and on 18 others
vermin were found there and/or elswhere. Apparently the cases of vermin reported to the
Department are those in which vermin are found elsewhere than the head.
House Sanitation.—The following paragraphs are limited to houses which are not on
the Register of Houses let in Lodgings, which latter are dealt with under "Tenement
Houses" (see p. 40).
Table XXIV., Appendix, summarises the principal activities of the District Inspectors
under this head during the "war period" (1914-18) and the past two years. A comparison of
the figures for 1914 with those for 1920 shows that the work of making good defects and
abating nuisances is handicapped by the present high level of prices for labour and materials.
The increases to be observed under most headings during 1920 are far short of those required
to make up the deficiencies for the years 1916-19. The cleansing of premises and the repair
of roofs are practically the only two items notably above the 1914 level.

In 1911, 227 drains were reconstructed, and 50 made sound, the corresponding figures for
1912 and 1913 being 223 and 175 and 98 and 73 for each category respectively. The extent
to which this work is below what is thought to be the standard of work required to be carried
out annually is demonstrated by the fact that during the four years 1911-14 200 drains were
entirely reconstructed and 75 mads sound each year, whereas since 1914 the annual averages
have been (approximately) 75 reconstructions and 16 repairs by process.

an increase in the number deposited, but the totals for the years 1919-20 are still much below
the normal. During 1911-14 340 plans were deposited on an average each year, the annual
average for the years 1915-20 being only 202.
In 1919, 584 letters had to be dispatched with reference to plans received, and in 1920,.
750. Summonses for failure to deposit plans were issued in 3 instances in 1919 and 2 in 1920.