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The inculca-
tion of habits
of cleanliness
It has been found, however, that notwithstanding the efforts of the local sanitary authorities in
i the homes, some children are constantly relapsing into verminous conditions. A Section of the Children's
! Care (Central) Sub-Committee, which was appointed to enquire into this problem reported inter alia
as follows:—
"We are convinced that one of the main difficulties in regard to the effectiveness of the
work is the existence of adult members of the families who are in a verminous condition, even
when the simultaneous cleansing of the children and the disinfection of the bedding are effected,
the fact that the wage-earning and other older members of the family who share the deplorable
condition are left untended, is a source of immediate reinfection. Doubtless the trouble and
annoyance arising out of the visits of the sanitary inspector and the fear of prosecution have seme
effect in the gradual improvement of the personal habits of such families; but we believe that
more could be done by direct education through kindly persuasion and direction towards securing
more promptly a better state of affairs in many such cases. This, we think, is eminently work
for which the members of the care committees are often more especially fitted, and we think
that some means should be found whereby the nurses' findings should, in more instances than is
now the case, be brought to the notice of the care committees.
In order that the habit of cleanliness should be encouraged alike in the children who are
bathed at the stations and in the older members of the families, we are of opinion that the Council
should arrange with the borough councils for the sale at the stations, at reduced rates (and in
necessitous cases for the free distribution) of tickets of admission to the public baths. We gather
from the figures published by the borough sanitary authorities that the public facilities provided
are by no means utilised to the full, and we attach the utmost importance to this proposal."
The proposals outlined in this report are being proceeded with and it is hoped that arrangements
will be made whereby the local authorities will agree to the admission of children and adults to a hot
bath at a reduced rate during times when the baths are not in great demand.
The Medical Officer of Health for Hackney has made careful investigation into the effect of the
use of second-hand clothing in reinfecting children who have once been cleansed. He found that there
is some reason for believing that the use of second-hand clothing had an influence and he has urged that
the matter should receive further attention.
Scabies.
In addition to dealing with children found to be verminous in the ordinary sense, arrangements
have been made for children suffering from scabies to be cleansed at a number of the stations. This
disease is responsible for long periods of suffering and absence from school and a considerable loss of
grant. Most of the children suffering are having medical treatment, but the parents do not possess
the necessary facilities for bathing and the sterilisation of clothing. The hospitals have been informed
of the facilities given at the cleansing stations, and with their co-operation much is being done to eradicate
the disease from among school children. The children attend the cleansing stations bringing their
ointment, on the latter portion of certain days when the station is open. This time is kept exclusively
for the attendance of scabies cases, so that they shall not mix with ordinary verminous cases. When
a child attends at the station a notification is sent to the local medical officer of health in order that
action necessary in the home may be carried out. The bath is thoroughly cleansed and the towels
sterilised after each case. All towels and other materials used in connection with the scabies cases are
kept apart. Cases attend at the stations twice a week, but if the child is not cured after eight baths
the case is reported for special examination by the school doctor, and further baths are not given until