View report page

methods relied upon to prevent or postpone the onset of the majority of
the above-mentioned diseases until the most favourable age is reached
at which they can be withstood.
Treatment in the Isolation Hospital is provided when required owing
to social or physical complications being present, but no case was so
admitted in 1947. A few cases may have been admitted to the Count}'
Hospitals, but of these no records are available.
INFESTATIONS.
(a) Scabies.
During 1947 the number of persons treated at the Scabies Treatment
Centre, Lion Green, Coulsdon, was 172, of which number 29 were
schoolchildren, 103 adults and children under 5 years of age, while 40
persons had preventative treatment only. Altogether 805 baths were given.

After the war of 1914-1918, a steady decline in the prevalence of this
disease occurred, and a similar decrease in the number of cases is
occurring at the present time.
At the commencement of the year seven sessions a week were held
(two being evening sessions), at some of which voluntary helpers from
the original Civil Defence staff continued to assist the two part-time paid
workers. With the reduction in the number of cases, it became practicable
to reduce correspondingly the number of sessions, which are now
only held on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday mornings and Tuesday and
Saturday evenings. A further reduction in the number of sessions or
an alteration in the arrangements will probably be introduced in the
near future.
(b) Vermin.
The number of cases of infestation was again very small and was
mostly limited to cases of head lice discovered at the schools. No cases
needed to be treated at the Scabies Treatment Centre, which may, however,
be called upon to undertake this work under the Education Act,
1944, if required to do so. As far as possible, these cases are dealt with
as family units.
25