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74
ADMINISTRATIVE WORK.
Ringworm.— Each case is visited periodically to urge medical treatment and to see that
proper attention is given to the child. Too many of the children get no more than lotions
ordered by chemists, and some of the cases drag on for a most unnecessary time." While not
wishing to say that " X-ray" treatment should be used indiscriminately in every case, experience
does indicate that such treatment deserves to be and should be much more freely resorted to.†
Up to about the middle of last year the County Council had an agreement with St.
Mary's Hospital for children to be seen twice a week. For some reason, hard to understand,
the second day was abandoned. It is always difficult to secure the "red cards" necessary to
obtain treatment at the Hospital, and during the latter half of the year exceptionally difficult.
Delays of a month or six weeks after application were far too common.
The 188 children comprised 110 in Infants' Schools, 97 in Boys', and 91 in Girls'. In 18
families there were 2 children affected, and in 2, 3. The sex distribution was equal.
Twenty-nine (29) children came to the Town Hall for examination, the total number of
examinations (microscopical) being 39.
Scabies.—The 30 cases comprised 11 in boys and 19 in girls, 8 of the children being under
7 years of age. Two families had 2 cases each and 1 family, 3.
Disinfection of the patients' clothes and bedding was carried out—In a few instances, not
all, as should have been done—when requested by the medical attendant.
Vermin.—During the last quarter of the year the Education Authority began to systematically
send in reports of children found at school to be dirty, verminous, or in need of cleansing.
Unfortunately, the form of report used was most unsatisfactory, giving no information except
the children's names (often only the family name) and their addresses (frequently wrong).‡ The
97 children reported were members of 65 families, boys numbering 55 and girls 42—19 of the
97 being under 7 years of age.
As there is no " Cleansing Station " provided in this Borough, all the Department can do
is to see whether the homes are verminous or in need of cleansing, and stimulate the parents to
greater efforts. A good many of the children found at school to be in need of cleansing are sent
by the Education Committee to the St. Marylebone Station, the Committee having an arrangement
with the Council of that Borough.
So long as "cleansing" is carried out under the supervision of the Education Authority it
must be incomplete, as that authority can deal only with children attending school. To achieve
a complete scheme a municipal station is necessary, where persons of all ages can be dealt
with. Persuasion is practically the only means of getting persons to attend for cleansing except
in the case of children, with respect to whom the Education Authority has special powers. §
internotification.—Information relating to non-resident children attending school and
to the members of their families is exchanged between the Medical Officers of Health of this
and the circumjacent Districts. Last year information relating to 384 (180 in 1910) cases in
connection with local schools was received from outside, the particulars of which are given below.
Disease. Kensington. Willesden. Hampstead. Marylebone.
Scarlet Fever 15 20 1 16
Diphtheria 14 29 2
Enteric Fever — — —
Measles 19 91 —
Whooping Cough 5 32 —
Chickenpox 7 22 —
Other Sickness 34 67 — 3
Vermin — 7 —
94 (31) 268 (137) 3 (1) 19 (11)
* Children reported at the end ot 1910 were still under observation at the close of 1911.
+ A discussion on the use of X-rays for the treatment of ringworm is to be found in the British Mediial
Journal of October 14th, 1911 (vol. ii., 1911, p. 890).
‡A new form, based on a draft prepared in this Department, has been adopted by the Education Committee,
but has not yet been brought into use (May, 1912).
§ A special report on the question (desirableness, cost, &c.) of providing a Cleansing Station for the Borough
was presented to the Council in July, 1910.