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part time Home Helps as and when required. Unfortunately however,
this type of work has not a large appeal, and the ideal person
for the post is not easily found. The scheme however, has been
found to be of real benefit, and demands for bookings of Home
Helps are increasing as the scheme becomes known.
In July, 1943, Circular 2831 from the Ministry of Health asked
Authorities to take special steps to tackle the question of infestation
by head lice amongst children both of pre-school and of school age.
Following this Circular a special drive was made by the Health
Visitors and School Nurses. Children attending the Welfare Clinics
were examined for this in addition to their general examination, and
special visits were paid to the homes of children known to be
chronic offenders. It is realised that infestation is nearly always a
family affair and the co-operation of the mother was solicited,
special steel combs were issued on loan or for sale, and careful
instructions as to methods of eradication were given. Attempts were
made to establish a modified cleansing station which could deal with
Scabies and head lice locally, but no success attended these
endeavours owing to difficulties with equipment and staff. Body
lice are almost unknown in Acton, the only cases dealt with during
the year being incomers who were cleansed at the Medicinal
Baths at Kensington, with which Borough, Acton has an
arrangement for that purpose. It is realised that poor and crowded
housing conditions make it more difficult for some families to attain
and keep a good standard of personal hygiene, but all available help
was offered to families known to be infested, to become cleansed
as a family, and, the evil once having been completely eradicated,
it was pointed out that subsequent freedom from re-infection would
be easier to maintain. A new preparation, Lethane hair oil, was
advocated, and supplied and used at the Day Nurseries in the
Borough. This preparation is not only deadly to the head louse, but
acts as a deterrent to re-infestation.
Posters and pamphlets anent the dangers of lice infestation were
exhibited at Welfares and schools, and distributed where it was
considered advisable. Many cases referred to the Public Health
Department from factories were cleansed. The total numbers treated
will be found embodied in the report.
Vital statistic figures show that the births taking place during
the year have gone up, and the birth rate rose from 16.7 for 1942 to
17.9 for 1943. The Infant death rate was again high but less than
in 1942. Gastro Enteritis again took its toll of young lives. No
obvious explanation emerges from investigation, but the plague of