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Health surveys—The number of comprehensive health surveys conducted in 1962 was
four per cent less than that conducted in 1961. There was a decrease of 16 per cent. in
the number of selective health surveys.
No. found Pupils found to be verminous
No. examined verminous % of No. examined
Annual comprehensive health surveys* 309,897 2,577 0.83
(323,800) (2,899) (0.90)
Additional health surveys* 158,678 2,911 1.83
(189,216) (3,327) (1.77)
*1961 figures in brackets.
To assess the comparative level of infestation amongst schoolchildren, only the findings
for comprehensive health surveys (each child seen once a year) can be compared with the
former hygiene inspections (each child seen once a term). As will be seen in the following
table, the percentage found to be verminous at comprehensive surveys has shown a continuous
decline over the years 1959 to 1962, which is largely due to the introduction in
1960 of Lorexane No. 3. shampoo.
Percentage found to be verminous
Hygiene inspections Comprehensive health surveys
1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962
1.35 1.26 1.25 1.27 1.25 0.93 0.90 0.83
The number of individual children found to be verminous during 1962 was 3,119, a
reduction of 975 from the number in 1961. Fewer selective health surveys were made,
which may account in part for the reduction, but the fact that the percentage found verminous
(occasions) at these selective health surveys has increased from 1.77 in 1961 to 1.83
in 1962 suggests that the surveys have tended to be confined to those schools where the
need is greatest.
Details of the work done under the cleansing scheme are shown below. The emphasis
of the cleansing scheme as now carried out is on the children being cleansed by the parents
at home, where any other verminous members of the family may, in the privacy that the
home affords, also use the Lorexane No. 3 shampoo, hence eradicating a possible source
to the child of recurring infestation.
To about seven per cent. of the number found verminous (occasions) at comprehensive
and selective surveys the issue of advice alone was necessary; to about 75 per cent. a tube
of Lorexane No. 3 shampoo was given. The number of statutory notices issued was 93,
an increase of 31 over the number issued in 1961. (320 such notices were issued in 1960).

Bathing centres—The number of cases of infestation with vermin treated at bathing
centres showed a reduction of 12 per cent. compared with 1961 and the number of treatments
a reduction of 12 per cent. There can be little doubt that these reductions are directly
attributable to the introduction of Lorexane.
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