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Scabies,
Impetigo
and
Ringworm
The number of individuals treated for scabies etc. in 1950 was 916, compared
with 2,173 in 1949. Although the number of verminous individuals (19,401) treated
at bathing centres was much smaller than in 1949 (34,700) the number of treatments
needed did not decrease in the same proportion. This illustrates the fact that, as might
be expected, progress is easier among those who are not being constantly reinfected
in verminous homes while the volume of attendance is maintained by the " hard
core " cases.
Children treated for impetigo at minor ailment and bathing centres numbered
2,607 against 2,954 in 1949.
The incidence of scalp ringworm has almost been eliminated ; it fell to a new low
level of 27 cases compared with 77 in 1949.
Vision
Spectacles for school children prescribed at school treatment centres continued
to be supplied under the supplementary ophthalmic service, pending the development
of the hospital eye service. The arrangements provided for the continuance of eye
sessions at the Council's school treatment centres. By agreement with the Ophthalmic
Services Committee of the London Executive Council the attendance at each
session of an optician for the convenience of parents was continued, but it was made
clear to them that they had freedom of choice of optician for the child. The vast
majority of the parents, however, availed themselves of the services of the optician
attending the centre.
There was a gradual improvement during the year in the delivery time for
spectacles, and at the end of the year there was no undue delay except for those
requiring high power lenses.
Enuresis
The arrangements made with the Westminster Hospital (All Saints Genitourinary
Department) for reference, on two sessions a week, of pupils from Council
schools suffering from enuresis continued. The number of new cases attending the
clinic rose to a rate of over 500 a year and the total attendances to a rate of over 3,000
a year. The analysis of results obtained is shown below :—

H