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45
(2) Tooth brushes should be renewed when the bristles become loose or
worn. The frequency of renewal will depend largely on the quality of the
brushes and may vary from six months to a year.
The Parks and Open Spaces Committee of the Council recently had under
consideration the question of disinfection of sandpits, and a rule as to their regular
disinfection by bleaching powder was made. Bacteriological examination by Dr.
McCartney of the sand used at the three nursery schools belonging to the Council
indicated that, although contamination was less in nursery schools than in parks, a
similar method of disinfection was desirable, and circulars were sent to nursery
schools on the lines laid down by the Parks and Open Spaces Committee. The
amount of bleaching powder suggested by Dr. McCartney is 1 pound for 20 tons of
sand. Advice given was that in nursery schools the surface of the pit should once
a month be moistened thoroughly with a hose (or watering can) and then sprinkled
with a solution of bleaching powder and water. The surface of the sand should be
well turned over and further sprinkling done with the solution. Finally the sand
should be well sprayed with water so that all the sand is wetted and the pit covered
over for at least three hours. For pits in the Council's nursery schools measuring
about 7½ feet square by 18 inches deep, about 2⅓ozs. of bleaching powder should be
used in the sprinkling solution. This should first be made into a paste with a small
quantity of water and then stirred into the water to be used for sprinkling.
The sand in sand trays should be similarly treated once a month, but only a
very small amount of bleaching powder is needed for the sprinkling solution.

Of 335 cases of measles, 4, i.e. 1-19 per cent., were fatal. The ages of children at
nursery schools are from 2 to 5 years, and the 4 deaths occurred amongst children
of 2, of whom 3 had been at the nursery school for a month or less and whose
health had, therefore, had little chance of improvement. The fourth, a particularly
delicate child, had been at school for 5 months. No deaths from measles occurred
in children over 2 years old.
From December, 1929, to June, 1930, the latest period for which printed figures
are available, the mortality from measles amongst 17,299 children of 2 to 5 years
old in 24 metropolitan boroughs was 1.11 per cent. At nearly all nursery schools
children are selected for admission because of delicacy or poverty, and the mortality
of 1.19 per cent. is, in comparison with 1.11 per cent. for normal children of all
social ranks, of favourable significance.
In the 24 metropolitan boroughs, of 192 deaths from measles between 2 and 5,
98 occurred in children of 3 to 4 and 4 to 5. The fact that amongst nursery school
children there were no deaths in these periods indicates increased stamina and
power of resistance to infection gained from attendance at the schools.
Child guidance
London
child
guidance
clinic.
During the year 1932 the number of Council cases referred to the London
child guidance clinic, Canonbury, was 173, of whom 107 were boys and 66 were girls.
The ages of the children referred, the source of, and the reasons for reference, are set