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It may be mentioned that no oases are sent when under
treatment by a practitioner, unless by his request or at the definite
request of the parents, and in all instances the slight risk or
difficulty with the growth of hair after X-rays is carefully explained
to each parent by the S.M.O. No cases of baldness or thinness of
hair have at present occurred in this district.
It is necessary to have the signature of each parent in agreement
to the electrical treatment, as occasionally attempts are
made to repudiate any obligation when the School Attendance
Officers collect the parents' contributions for treatment.
The electrical method is increasing in popularity. Parents
who delayed early treatment regret their wasted time, and " wish
it had been done earlier."
It is not uncommon to find children absent for between one
to two years where drug treatment is irregularly applied. The
longest case in the district has been suffering from ringworm
for nearly four years, though in fairly regular attendance at a
hospital.
All the slighter cases of ringworm, or those in which the
body is involved, are also seen by the S.M.O. and kept under
close observation. Microscopical examination for spores is carried
out in all necessary cases, and the School Nurse does excellent
work in treating cases of ringworm of the body where the mothers
go out to work and it has been impossible to get treatment regularly
applied.
Possibly the spread of ringworm will decrease when the
popular round wool caps are no longer in fashion, as these caps
become infected with short broken hairs, and a fresh portion of
the scalp may be daily infected as the caps are adjusted in a
new position.
Tuberculosis.
All cases supposed to be tuberculous in origin are brought
for the inspection of the S.M.O., and efforts are made to provide
treatment for the cases which are definitely tuberculous or in
the pre-tubercular stage.