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(b) Lice.
Almost all school children are inspected by the Health
Visitors each term to ensure the absence of lice and in 1956 only
17 were found to have head lice, usually following accidental or
casual infestation. Such cases quickly respond to the treatment the
parents are advised and assisted to provide. Only 2 or 3 families
in this District seem permanently liable to harbour vermin.
THE CONTROL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
The main lines along which attempts have been made to prevent
the spread of infectious diseases have been (a) to prevent the
organisms entering the body and (b) to increase the body's resistance
to any which do enter.
Isolation of the sufferer and disinfection of his excretions and
surroundings can, in some instances, reduce the risks of others
getting the germs, at least in very large numbers. These measures
'are most successful in those diseases, such as enteric fever,
dysentery and possibly poliomyelitis, in which spread occurs mainly
through the vomit, urine or faeces.
The presumption underlying this historical approach to the
problem is that only the obvious patient is carrying the germs.
Increasing knowledge has shown, however, that in almost, if not in
all cases the infection has spread to other persons before the first
case is recognised, and a variable proportion of these can carry
and thus spread the disease without themselves suffering much, if
any, ill health.
This consideration, which applies particularly to the large
number of infections which are chiefly spread in the droplets the
patient sprays around when speaking, coughing or sneezing, has
resulted in less justification for following the practice of isolation
or segregation and disinfection.
There is still a place for excluding for 48 hours, persons
starting to show signs of a 'cold', which may prove to be something
even more serious. This will help to reduce the doseage
others may receive.
Nevertheless, it is obviously most desirable in all cases in
which it is practicable, to increase the resistance of the population
to those infections with which they will almost inevitably come into
contact sometime, hence the steadily increasing emphasis on, and
practice of immunisation. The following brief notes are an attempt
to summarise the present position in regard thereto.
SMALLPOX.
Vaccination against this often deadly disease was historically
the first attempt to provoke a mild attack which would reduce the
chances of a severe reaction. Subsequently, vaccination with a
milder but related vaccine was generally adopted and made
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