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89
The reduction in the percentage of children found unclean corresponds closely
with the findings of the school doctors at routine medical inspections. It is the practice
of the school nurses in London to include not only children found harbouring
pediculi and their ova, but also children who are found flea-bitten; also, as the
children are seen more than three times a year by the school nurses and it is probable
that especially dirty schools receive more attention, it is clear that the above figures
are not to be compared with those of other authorities where differing methods and
standards may exist.
It is satisfactory to report a continued decrease in the number of children
suffering from scabies. This decrease has permitted an extended use of the cleansing
facilities for dealing with the verminous child.
The Council has agreements with 18 of the sanitary authorities for the use of
their cleansing stations and with voluntary committees for the use of seven centres
where head cleansings only are effected. These centres with the Council's own
nine stations make a total of 34 centres which are available for the cleansing of school
children throughout London.
Out of 79,702 children whose verminous condition was brought to the notice
of the parents 35,516 attended voluntarily at the cleansing stations, but in 21,951
cases it was necessary to serve statutory notices after a further examination. Following
upon these statutory notices, 6,115 children attended the stations voluntarily,
but of the remainder 11,602 were found verminous after a still further examination
and were compulsorily taken by the nurses for cleansing. Among the children who
were compulsorily cleansed 770 were subsequently found to have relapsed and prosecutions
under section 87 of the Education Act were instituted in 659 cases.
As in previous years the borough medical officers were informed concerning
children dealt with under the Council's cleansing scheme in order that the home
conditions might be remedied under the Acts of 1904 and 1922. During 1923 reports
were received in regard to 3,589 homes visited; out of this number disinfestation or
destruction of bedding or disinfestation of homes was carried out in 1,088
instances. In 1922 the corresponding figures were 5,005 homes visited, action
taken in 1,228 cases; 4,882 homes were visited and action was taken in 1,792 cases
in 1921.
Apart from the question of verminous conditions, arrangements have been
made in Camberwell and Kensington for classes of school children to be taken to
the public washing baths during school hours. The number of baths arranged for
during 1923 was 3,991 in Camberwell and 5,151 in Kensington. In addition certain
borough councils are now providing cheap tickets, the use of which is limited to school
children attending the baths, generally before 6 p.m.
Infectious Diseases.
The decline in the incidence of scarlet fever which followed the major wave of Scarlet fever
prevalence in 1920-21 continued during 1923, 4,824 cases having been reported as
occurring among London school children, as compared with 8,026 (1922), 17,030
(1921), and 11,860 (1920) respectively. The disease persisted more or less actively
in certain centres, notably in Islington, Fulham and Stepney to the nor!h, and in
Camberwell, Lewisham, Lambeth and Wandsworth to the south of the river. The
outbreak in Islington is worthy of passing comment inasmuch as the area affected in
Holloway was comparatively restricted, and the outbreak commenced in August
and continued throughout the autumn. This outbreak naturally affected the schools
in the neighbourhood and one school (the "Forster") was specially involved. This
school, as well as others, was visited from time to time, by the Council's medical
staff and the reports indicated that the outbreak was not a school infection, but
was maintained by the conditions of life in the larger tenement houses in the
neighbourhood.