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Bathing centre and cleansing station facilities—In 1958 the Council had the use of 16
cleansing stations and bathing centres in the 48 square miles of London north of the river
and only 9 in the 67 square miles south of the river. As there have never been any representations
to the effect that south London was inadequately served, or that parents and children
have had to travel excessive distances, the review concentrated on north London. At a
number of the Council's bathing centres no other activities take place and in most areas
the total volume of work carried out no longer justifies staff standing-by at such centres.
These centres will therefore be closed as opportunities occur and cleansing facilities will be
provided at centres at which the nursing and bathing attendant staff can be usefully employed
on other activities.
In the light of the review arrangements were made to terminate, with effect from
31 March, I960 the agreements with five of the metropolitan borough councils under
which pupils were sent for cleansing to the borough cleansing station. In addition three of
the Council's bathing centres were closed during 1959.
Scabies, impetigo and ringworm
1955 1956 1957 1958 1959
Scabies
Pupils treated 961 762 697 768 660
Verminous
Pupils treated 9,867 9,669 8,175 7,473 7,025
Treatments needed 15,756 14,770 13,787 13,647 11,799
Impetigo
Pupils treated 3,749 2,776 2,433 1,478 1,187
Ringworm
New cases 9 — 17 22 20
Employment of school children
Medical examinations were carried out divisionally of 3,750 children with a view to the
issue of employment certificates, and 462 medical examinations were carried out at the
County Hall in respect of employment under licence in public entertainments.
Choice of employment
The percentage of school leavers advised against particular forms of employment was
13.8 per cent, of those inspected compared with 13.6 per cent. in 1958. For boys the figure
rose from 15.0 per cent. in 1958 to 15.5 per cent. and for girls it decreased from 12.0 per
cent. to 11.9 per cent. As in recent years, normally acute vision and eye strain headed the
list of contra-indications followed by colour vision (boys only) and heavy manual work:
Contra-indications Boys Girls
Occupations involving:
Heavy manual work 260 134
Sedentary work 18 9
Indoor work 5 5
Exposure to bad weather 153 100
Wide changes of temperature 100 56
Work in damp atmosphere 131 92
Work in dusty atmosphere 168 70
Much stooping 52 32
Climbing 102 51
Work near moving machinery or moving vehicles 103 77
Prolonged standing, much walking or quick movement from
place to place 127 127
Eye strain 703 755
Normal vision 986 575
Normal colour vision 419 —
Normal use of hands 29 16
Exposure of hands to moisture, chemicals, etc. 36 26
Handling or preparation of food 104 102
Normal hearing 80 51
note: The total number of contra-indications is greater tlmn the number of pupils with contra-indications
(2,381 boys and 1,563 girls) since an individual may be noted for two or more contra-indications.
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