London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Croydon 1924

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]

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135
conditions. These visits have entailed a very considerable amount
of work for the health visitors. An average of 12 visits was paid
to each school for that purpose, and 47,033 examinations of children
carried out. In 4,512 of these, or 9.5 per cent., the children were
found to show in some degree verminous conditions of the head or
body. The procedure set out in the Committee's Standing Orders
in respect of such conditions was adopted in these as in the corresponding
cases traced by head teachers.
The following figures, which summarise the results of uncleanliness
surveys of Boys', Girls', and Infants' Departments of
Council schools visited for three separate rounds of such inspections,
show on the one hand appreciable general improvement, and
on the other indicate that such improvement is likely to be slow
and to need much steady work before the position can be regarded
as satisfactory:—

Proportion of children showing in some degree verminous conditions:—

Boys' DepartmentsGirls' DepartmentsInfants' Depts
First Survey, 19243.7%14.3%14.2%
Third ,, ,,1.9%13.7%12.4%

While at the end of any given survey the number of children
showing infestation drops 10 almost negligible proportions, the
children become reinfested, possibly through other members of
their households, or in other ways, so that the condition at the next
survey is often again disappointingly high.
No legal proceedings were taken during the year in connection
with such cases, either under the Education Act, 1921, or under
the School Attendance Bye-laws.
Cleansing at Borough Disinfecting Station.
28 children were cleansed at the Disinfecting Station during
the year—19 for verminous conditions of the body, and 9 for
scabies. In all cases, the personal clothing and bedding underwent
steam disinfection, while the child received a cleansing bath
under the supervision of a health visitor. The room occupied by
the child was also disinfected, and facilities given for cleansing
other members of the household.