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Speaking paradoxically, the only proper way of treating uncleanliness is to
prevent it. I do believe that it is quite right for girls to be taught in school the
proper use of the kitchen and that it is clearly right for boys and girls to be taught
the proper use of the bathroom. There can be no doubt that much of the bathing
carried out in the home is at such infrequent intervals that the troubles and
difficulties of ablution present a definite interruption in what may be regarded
as the ordinary routine of life. Going to the bathroom to bathe should be regarded
as an uneventful part of the ordinary work of the day.
(c) Minor Ailments and Diseases of the Skin.—During the year under review
there were no less than 22,420 attendances for such treatment in Barking. There
may be one or two cases where such attendances represent an interference with school
life, out of proportion to the necessity of the case. These cases are fortunately very
few indeed; unfortunately, however, when they do occur they are very obvious.
It may be said that the treatment of minor disabilities helps very considerably in
maintaining average school attendances. Untreated, many of these minor
disabilities become major ones and entail long absences from school.
Treatment is undertaken at your Central Clinic under favourable conditions ;
a doctor attends at 9 a.m. and the nurses carry on throughout the whole of the
morning. These nurses are provided by the Plaistow Maternity Hospital District
Nurses' Home. A similar clinic is held in the Greig Hall, Stamford Road, next to
which you are building a second permanent clinic along the same lines of the Central
Clinic, to which I have already referred.
As I have previously reported, the treatment of Ringworm of the scalp is undertaken
at the London Hospital by Dr. W. J. O'Donovan. Under this arrangement
eight school-children were treated during the year.