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INFESTATIONS.
(a) Scabies.
During 1950 the number of persons treated by the Health
Department for this disease was only 11, (5 adults, 4 school
children and 2 children under 5 years), while a few contacts
were provided with a special soap now used as a preventative.
A total of 20 treatments was carried out.
As previously reported, the Cleansing Centre at Lion Green
was closed in December, 1948, and almost all the above treatment
was provided in the patients' own homes by the Medical
Officer or a part-time Nurse.

It would, perhaps, be preferable if more of the apparently
isolated cases, which occur from time to time were referred to
the Medical Officer of Health in order to ensure the rapid and
complete treatment of the whole family.
(b) Vermin.
The number of cases of infestation remained small and
was limited to the 30 children found to have head nits in school.
Almost all of these were only casual infestations which immediately
responded to the treatment mainly provided by the
parents. A concerted effort is being made to deal with the
few families most prone to reinfestation.
THE CONTROL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
The place of immunisation among the measures for the
control of infectious disease remained much as in recent years.
The parents of all children should ensure that they are
kept as highly immune as possible against diphtheria by early
immunisation and periodical enhancing doses.
The comparatively small risk of this treatment influencing
the onset of poliomyelitis is now well-recognised and precautionary
measures can be instituted as and when these are indicated.
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