View report page

132
REMEDIES.
1. To reduce the number of re-infections due to certain articles
of clothing or bedding escaping disinfection, it is only necessary to
be more thorough in the home investigations and the examinations
of clothing and bedding. This increased efficiency is being brought
about.
2. More difficulty seems to attach to finding a remedy for
re-infection due to members of the family, other than those at school
age. The individuals may be either under school age or above
school age. With regard to the former, I am of opinion that when
re-infection occurs in any family these younger children should be
examined by the school nurse. If there is any suspicion of an
adult being infected, a medical cerficate should be required that
the adults are free from infection. (This latter should of course,
not be required except where there is repeated infection and other
sources have been negatived.)
3.—How to prevent the sale of secondhand verminous clothing
is a much more difficult problem to solve, yet it is quite clear that
if all secondhand clothes were submitted to disinfection the problem
would be solved. One of the greatest difficulties in dealing
thoroughly with matters of this sort is to avoid, what is regarded
by many as an almost unforgivable crime, the interference with
what is called a recognised legitimate business. But the sale of
verminous clothing should be taken out of the above category.
I think the time has come when some check should be placed on
the indiscriminate sale of filthy clothing. Some guarantee should
be enforced that the articles when sold are clean and free from
vermin. The best way to bring this about is not just apparent,
but some form of sterilising seems to be indicated. This question
of the sale of unclean clothes is surely not beyond the range of
Public Health preventive measures.