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76
During the year, 430 specimens of hair from school children were microscopically
examined in the Council's laboratories, 176 showed the presence of ringworm.
The number of cases of scabies and impetigo treated at bathing centres during
the year are mentioned on page 71.
There were 7 cases of scalp ringworm and 11 of body ringworm among children
in residential schools and children's homes. The outbreaks were isolated and were
investigated as they arose. Surveys with a Wood's lamp were made of contacts and
spread prevented. Of the seven cases of scalp ringworm, one was at Ongar Residential
School and occurred at the beginning of the year, being the last case of an
outbreak which was already under control. Two cases were at Hutton Residential
School, occurring among children in an out-county nursery temporarily housed in
the premises. No fresh infections arose therefrom. The remaining four were at
Banstead Residential School, three being discovered as a result of inspection on
receipt of report of the first case.
Residential accommodation for the treatment of ringworm is provided at the
Council's Goldie Leigh Hospital. During the year 30 cases were discharged cured,
and there were 7 cases in the hospital at the end of 1946.
The school nurse examines all entrants to the residential schools with a Wood's
lamp (where electricity is available).
Active immunisation against diphtheria was continued at the Council's residential
establishments for children. At the end of the year 67.5 per cent. of the
children in residence had been immunised and 11.9 per cent. were in process of being
immunised. Of the remainder, the majority were too young to be immunised.
Rheumatism scheme
A condensed account of the work of the Council's rheumatic scheme, presented
by Dr. C. E. Thornton, is given below.

* This is the figure for January. The number increased very considerably towards the end of the year.
This indicates an apparent decrease in the incidence of juvenile rheumatism
(including chorea).
The percentage incidence of permanent and severe cardiac damage is a fair
indication of the severity of rheumatic infection in any particular series of cases.
For the reasons stated above, the conditions during the war were not strictly comparable
with those of pre-war years, and it is impossible to say what influence
selection had in producing differences in the severity of cardiac involvement in the
cases admitted to the rheumatic units.
Dr. Thornton's view is that there was a more virulent type of infection; that
the attacks were characterised by more prolonged carditis ; and that the occurrence
of nodules and of pericardiac involvement was more prevalent during the war years
than in 1938.
Scabies and
impetigo
Residential
establishments
for
children:
Ringworm
Diphtheria
immunisation