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among school children, as parents will insist that the disease is
cured as soon as it is checked. With X-Ray treatment,
infection would be at an end in one month, and return to school
might even take place sooner if suitable precautions were, taken.
EXTENT OF RINGWORM AMONG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
CHILDREN .-—At the moment of writing this Report (March 23rd,
igo6), no less than 180 children are excluded from school on account
of ringworm. Many other less obvious cases would also be found
to be still attending school were the children systematically
examined. Of the 180 children :
2 have been excluded since November, 1904 = 17 months.
2 „ „ „ January, 1905 =15
1 „ ,, „ February, 1905 = 14 ,,
3 „ „ „ March, 1905 = 13
4 .. „ „ April, 1905 =12
5 „- „ .. May, 1905 =11
1 „ „ „ June, 1905 = 10
7 „ „ „, -Tuly, 1905 =9
4 „„ „ „ August, 1905 —8
10 „ „ „ September, 1905 =7
11 „ „ ,, October, 1905 6 „
130 for periods less than 6 months.
REASONS WHY THE COUNCIL SHOULD UNDERTAKE THE
TREATMENT OF RINGWORM.—(1) School attendance is compulsory,
and it is therefore incumbent on the local authorities to check, and,
if possible, to stamp out all communicable diseases of school
children. They also have some moral responsibility for the treatment
of a complaint which has probably been contracted in a
school.
(2) The parents cannot afford to pay for the prolonged treatment
necessary if drugs alone are used.
(3) The X-Ray treatment, cannot, at present, be obtained in
Croydon, nor is it likely to be placed within reach of the poor.
(4) It is a serious matter, from the financial point of view, that
180 children should be excluded from school and consequently unable
to earn the Exchequer grant of £2 per child per annum. It is still
more serious that so many children should be deprived for many